Building accessible forms isn't just about compliance; it's about usability. A form that is easy for a screen reader to navigate is usually cleaner and easier for everyone to use. ## 1. Explicit Labels The `#1` rule is to always link your `` to your ``. **Bad:** ```html

Password:

``` **Good:** ```html Password ``` Or wrap naming: ```html Password ``` ## 2. Linking Help Text If you have help text (e.g., "Must be 8 characters"), a screen reader won't know about it unless you link it using `aria-describedby`. ```html Username Must be unique and lowercase. ``` ## 3. Error Handling When a user submits the form and there's an error, three things must happen: 1. The inputs with errors should have `aria-invalid="true"`. 2. The error message should be linked via `aria-describedby` (or `aria-errormessage`). 3. Focus should potentially move to the first error. ```html Email Please enter a valid email address. ``` ## 4. Grouping with Fieldsets Checkboxes and radio buttons often come in groups. Using a `

` with a `` provides crucial context. ```html

Preferred Contact Method Email Phone

``` Without the fieldset, a user tabbing to "Phone" might just hear "Radio button, unselected, Phone", missing the context of "Preferred Contact Method".

Accessible Forms- Oct 15, 2025

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