Color contrast and ARIA labels — minimum accessibility requirements

Web application fails accessibility audit. Common issues: insufficient color contrast, missing alt text, click handlers on divs without keyboard support, missing form labels, no skip navigation link.

Minimum requirements: (1) Color contrast: 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px+ bold). Use browser DevTools or axe to check. (2) Images: alt text for informative images, alt='' for decorative. (3) Interactive elements: use button/a for clickable elements, not div/span with onClick. If you must use div, add role='button', tabindex='0', and keydown handler for Enter/Space. (4) Forms: every input needs a label (label element or aria-label). (5) Headings: use proper hierarchy (h1 > h2 > h3), don't skip levels. (6) Skip link: first focusable element should skip to main content. (7) Run axe-core in CI.

Accessibility is not optional — it is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions (ADA, WCAG). Beyond compliance, many people have some form of disability. Accessible design benefits everyone (keyboard users, slow connections, screen glare).