Everything You Need to Know About Accessibility Testing and the European Accessibility Act

Accessibility testing is crucial for ensuring that websites and apps are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities affecting their hearing, vision, speech, cognition, and motor skills. This kind of testing helps businesses create an inclusive digital experience for all users by discovering and removing barriers that may prevent users from fully interacting with a website or app. Accessibility testing aligns with the four principles of accessibility as defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. By making digital experiences accessible, businesses can attract millions of people who want to use their products, capture market share from competitors that fail to prioritize accessibility, and protect themselves from legal repercussions related to ADA compliance and other regional guidelines. Automated testing tools like Deque Systems' axe DevTools® Mobile for Appium can help developers catch errors and issues early on in the development process, while free tools such as WAVE and Lighthouse allow users to check a website's accessibility right from their browser.