Accessible Rich Internet Applications, or ARIA, is a set of special HTML attributes that help make web content and applications more accessible—especially for users who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers.
ARIA roles, states, and properties describe elements such as buttons, dialogs, and menus, providing extra context so assistive tools can understand and interact with complex web components.
Why it matters:
Using ARIA improves the accessibility of dynamic content and advanced user interface controls that aren’t natively accessible, helping more users navigate and interact with your website.
Where it’s used:
ARIA is commonly used in web applications, interactive websites, single-page apps, and anywhere rich, dynamic content requires enhanced accessibility support.
Note: ARIA is primarily a technical tool used by web developers to enhance accessibility – not so much by copywriters, content marketers, or other creatives. However, understanding ARIA can help content marketers collaborate effectively with development and UX teams to ensure a fully accessible user experience.
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