Track: Development
Debugging for Accessibility with the Accessibility Tree
Description
The accessibility tree is a modified version of the DOM (Document Object Model), containing only the nodes that need to be exposed to assistive technologies like screen readers. Developers can view the frontend version of this tree in DevTools, and can take advantage of it when debugging for certain accessibility issues.
We’ll explore the differences between browsers in how they render the accessibility tree and discuss what advantages or challenges each presents for accessibility debugging. We’ll pay special attention to the power of semantic HTML in correctly exposing nodes and their attributes that are relevant for accessibility.