ARIA: A Powerful Tool for Web Accessibility, and Its Pitfalls

This article delves into the role of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) in web accessibility, exposing common misconceptions. ARIA isn't a silver bullet; it supplements native HTML elements, providing additional information for assistive technologies like screen readers to enhance interactivity, purpose, and state understanding. The article covers ARIA's history, usage rules, its grammatical structure (roles, states, and properties), and challenges in real-world application, such as varying assistive technology support and ARIA attribute misuse. The author advocates prioritizing semantic HTML, using ARIA judiciously, and emphasizes manual testing to ensure correctness and effectiveness. Ultimately, the article connects ARIA usage with care for disabled people, urging developers to prioritize accessibility and build a more inclusive web.