Screen Reader

Assistive software that reads on-screen content aloud or outputs it to a braille display, used by people who are blind or have low vision.

Why it matters

For its users the screen reader IS the interface — your headings are the navigation, your alt text the imagery, your DOM order the layout. Ten minutes of testing with one reorders an engineer’s priorities faster than any guideline document.

The numbers

  • Headings, landmarks, labels — the navigation it depends on
  • VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS, TalkBack — the big four

Related terms

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