When developing websites and web applications, it’s essential to consider accessibility to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and use your content. One aspect of accessibility that often goes overlooked is the use of JavaScript events. JavaScript events can make a website more dynamic and interactive, but they can also create barriers for users who rely on assistive technology. In this blog post, we’ll explore some best practices for using JavaScript events in an accessible way.

1. Provide Keyboard Support

Many users rely on keyboard navigation to access and interact with web content. As such, it’s important to ensure that all JavaScript events can be triggered using a keyboard. This means providing a way to focus on the element that triggers the event using the “Tab” key and triggering the event using the “Enter” key. Additionally, it’s important to provide clear visual feedback when an element is in focus, so users can easily see which element they are interacting with.

Here’s an example of how to provide keyboard support for a button that triggers a JavaScript event:

<button
  onClick={handleClick}
  onKeyDown={(e) => {
    if (e.key === 'Enter') {
      handleClick();
    }
  }}
>
  Click Me
</button>

In this example, the onClick event is triggered when the button is clicked with a mouse, while the onKeyDown event triggers the same function when the “Enter” key is pressed. This provides keyboard support for the event, allowing users who rely on keyboard navigation to interact with the button.

2. Use ARIA Attributes

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide additional information to assistive technology users about the purpose and behavior of web elements. Using ARIA attributes can help ensure that users with disabilities can understand and interact with your website. When using JavaScript events, it’s important to use ARIA attributes to provide context and explain the purpose of the event.

Here’s an example of how to use ARIA attributes with a button that triggers a JavaScript event:

<button
  onClick={handleClick}
  aria-label="Expand Menu"
  aria-expanded={isExpanded}
>
  {isExpanded ? 'Hide Menu' : 'Show Menu'}
</button>

In this example, the aria-label attribute provides a label for the button that is read by screen readers, while the aria-expanded attribute indicates whether the menu is currently expanded or not. This provides additional context for users with disabilities, allowing them to understand the purpose and behavior of the button.

3. Avoid Trapping Focus

When using JavaScript events, it’s important to avoid trapping focus, which occurs when a user is unable to navigate away from a specific element using the keyboard. Trapping focus can be frustrating for users who rely on keyboard navigation, as it can prevent them from accessing other content on the page. To avoid trapping focus, ensure that all elements that trigger JavaScript events are accessible using the “Tab” key and that focus is returned to the appropriate element after the event is triggered.

Here’s an example of how to avoid trapping focus with a button that triggers a JavaScript event:

<button
  onClick={handleClick}
  onBlur={() => setFocus(false)}
  onFocus={() => setFocus(true)}
>
  Click Me
</button>

In this example, the onBlur and onFocus events are used to track the focus state of the button. When the button loses focus, the onBlur event sets the focus state to false, indicating that the button is no longer in focus. When the button gains focus, the onFocus event sets the focus state to true, indicating that the button is