Common website accessibility barriers include low-contrast text, meaning conveyed only by color, missing or unhelpful image alternatives, unclear form labels, weak page structure, keyboard-inaccessible controls, and media without appropriate alternatives or controls. Fixes start with clearer content and design, then need to be checked by using the site—not just looking at it.
Common web accessibility issues—and practical fixes
Accessibility barriers often come from everyday design and publishing choices. They can make it harder for people to perceive information, understand a page, or complete an action. The following first-pass fixes address common issues; they do not by themselves establish that a site conforms to an accessibility standard.
Insufficient text contrast
Text that blends into its background, including text placed over an image, can be difficult to read. In WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.3, the minimum contrast ratio is 4.5:1 for ordinary text and 3:1 for large text, subject to exceptions in the standard. Check the actual foreground and background colors, then adjust the palette or give text a solid background. Do not assume that a color combination is readable because it looks acceptable on one display. W3C WCAG 2.2
Meaning communicated by color alone
Color should not be the only way to identify an error, success state, required field, or category. Pair color with a text label, an appropriately named icon, a pattern, or another cue. For example, a form error should say what needs attention rather than only turning a field border red. W3C tips for designing for web accessibility
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Missing or unhelpful image alternatives
Write alternative text according to an image’s purpose in its context. A meaningful image needs a text alternative that conveys relevant information; a decorative image should not add irrelevant material to the reading flow. If an image acts as a button or link, its accessible name should describe the control’s purpose, not merely its appearance. WCAG 2.2 Non-text Content
Unlabeled or unclear form fields
Give each input a clear, programmatically associated label. Explain required information and expected formats, and make errors identifiable in text as well as visually. A placeholder alone is not a reliable substitute for a persistent label: it may disappear during entry and may not explain the field sufficiently.
Weak headings and navigation
Use headings that express the page’s actual hierarchy and labels that describe the topic or purpose of a section or control. Keep navigation clear and consistent. People using screen readers may navigate by headings, so heading text should make sense without relying on visual styling or surrounding layout. W3C Easy Checks
Mouse-only controls or invisible keyboard focus
All functionality should be available from a keyboard, and the currently focused item should be visibly apparent. A person should be able to move through links, buttons, menus, and form fields and complete their actions without a mouse. Do not remove the browser’s focus outline unless you replace it with an equally clear indicator. WCAG 2.2 includes requirements for keyboard operation and visible focus. WCAG 2.2
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Provide alternatives suited to the media. Captions may be needed to convey speech and relevant non-speech audio. Give users controls for content that starts automatically, so they can pause or stop it where appropriate. W3C design tips
How to make a website more accessible
- Start with the content and purpose. Identify the information and actions on each page, then make labels, instructions, image alternatives, headings, and error messages communicate them clearly.
- Check the visual presentation. Measure text contrast against its background, including text on images and control labels. Add a non-color cue wherever color indicates status or meaning.
- Review page structure and media. Check that headings describe the content hierarchy, navigation labels are understandable, meaningful images have useful alternatives, and media has appropriate alternatives and controls.
- Operate the page with a keyboard. Move through interactive elements, confirm that focus remains visible, and complete key tasks without using a mouse.
- Recheck after changes. A fix to one state or page does not prove that other pages, menus, dialogs, or form errors work accessibly. Check the relevant content and interaction states too.
How to check web accessibility
Use the W3C’s Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility as a starting point. It directs readers to inspect image alternatives, headings, contrast, keyboard focus, and captions. Treat this as a preliminary review: it can reveal some obvious barriers, but a quick scan is not proof of accessibility or WCAG conformance.
First review or deeper evaluation?
| Review level | Useful for | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|
| First review | Finding obvious barriers on selected pages with W3C Easy Checks. | Some common problems, such as missing image alternatives, weak headings, contrast concerns, or keyboard-focus issues. It is not a full evaluation. |
| Deeper evaluation | Site-wide work or complex interactive experiences, especially where the consequences of a missed barrier matter. | Requires reviewing relevant pages, content meaning, keyboard operation, and interactive states. W3C points to further evaluation resources, but the checks do not prescribe a particular product or service. |
Choose the depth of review to match the site’s complexity and the importance of its tasks. If a first pass finds problems, fix them and review again; if the site has many templates, interactive flows, or high-stakes tasks, a limited spot check is not enough to assess the whole experience.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Capture page states while reviewing
For visual review, a screenshot can help document a page or a particular state, but it cannot determine whether labels are associated with fields, whether alternative text is useful, or whether a page works by keyboard. Use screenshots as a record alongside direct inspection, not as an accessibility test. ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers; its captures can support visual comparison, while accessibility still needs to be evaluated through content and interaction.
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For a screenshot of a page you are reviewing, make one GET request. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for available options.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webp
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Troubleshooting a first review
- Text remains hard to read over a photo: Measure contrast against the background behind the text, not a nearby part of the image. Change the image treatment or add a solid backing if contrast varies across the text.
- An error is apparent only from its color: Add a textual error message and associate it with the field or task so the meaning is not color-dependent.
- An image has alt text, but it is not useful: Reconsider the image’s role. Describe information that matters in context; leave decorative images out of the reading flow; name image controls by their action or purpose.
- You cannot tell where keyboard focus is: Provide a visible focus indicator and test again while moving through links, buttons, menus, and fields.
- A page passes a quick check, but concerns remain: Easy Checks is preliminary. Review the relevant interactions and additional pages, and use deeper evaluation for complex or site-wide experiences.
Standards and scope
WCAG 2.2 is the W3C recommendation referenced here, published in 2023. Its criteria provide a technical framework for evaluating web content. A first review can identify some problems, but it is not equivalent to a full assessment against the standard. Legal obligations vary by jurisdiction and circumstances; the sources cited here do not establish requirements for every website or location. W3C WCAG 2.2 · ADA.gov guidance on web accessibility and the ADA
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