If web forms are not properly coded they may present barriers to screen reader users. Screen readers need to understand various form attributes, including:
- what the labels are for the different fields (and which labels go with which fields)
- which fields are required
- which fields are grouped together
- which fields have format or validation errors
Webmasters should follow best practices to ensure their forms are accessible. The following set of guidelines is a recommendation for the Michigan Tech community. However, regular form testing with screen reader technology is still encouraged and there is more than one valid technical implementation for creating accessible web forms.
If you are coding web forms or evaluating products that create forms for you, it is necessary and assumed that you have already completed a basic mastery of form elements.
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To learn more about web forms: