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There are two major approaches to testing the accessibility of web pages. The older one is manual accessibility testing, using a browser, a text editor and our best judgment. The newer method is the use of automated web accessibility testing tools. This article will explore the benefits of both approaches and will suggest how to combine both methods to achieve better results in a shorter amount of time.
Manual Accessibility Testing
Manual testing is one of the safest methods to determine the accessibility of a web page. The accuracy of the results solely depends on the knowledge of the tester. The process involves a thorough understanding of the client side code. This code can be viewed in most web browsers. The tester checks the page structure, and reviews the code where it is necessary. Manual testing allows finding accessibility problems which cannot be found programmatically. For example, a testing tool can determine if an image has descriptive text associated to it, but during manual testing it is possible to determine if the description provides enough information about the image. Manual testing requires a precise systemati |
