Automating accessibility checks
An accessibility engine scans rendered output for violations such as missing alternative text, poor color contrast, or buttons with no accessible name. Wired into your tests, it fails the build when a component breaks a rule.
What it catches well
- Missing labels and alternative text.
- Insufficient color contrast.
- Invalid ARIA attribute usage.
- Improper heading structure.
What it cannot catch
Automated checks find perhaps half of real issues. They cannot judge whether focus order makes sense, whether a label is meaningful, or whether a flow is usable with a screen reader. Those need manual and keyboard testing.
Wiring it in
- Run the scanner inside component and integration tests.
- Add it to end to end tests on key pages.
- Pair it with manual keyboard and screen reader passes.
Automation is a fast floor for accessibility, not the ceiling.
Key idea
Automated a11y scans catch many concrete violations cheaply but must be paired with manual keyboard and screen reader testing.