ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a technical specification developed by the W3C to improve accessibility on modern websites. It allows developers to define roles, states, and properties for UI elements—especially those created using JavaScript—that might not be inherently accessible to users relying on screen readers or other assistive technologies.
For example, a custom dropdown menu built with JavaScript may not be recognized as a list by assistive tech. ARIA roles and attributes (such as aria-expanded, aria-label, and aria-hidden) fill this gap by making the element’s function and status explicit. When used alongside clean semantic HTML and standards like WCAG compliance, ARIA helps ensure a more inclusive user experience.
ARIA enables businesses to create interactive, engaging websites without compromising accessibility.
For companies investing in accessible web design, ARIA attributes are essential to bridging the gap between rich front-end functionality and assistive device compatibility.
From a technical SEO and performance standpoint, integrating ARIA responsibly contributes to a better-structured, SEO-optimized website by clarifying roles and content hierarchy. Additionally, accessible interfaces enhance the effectiveness of Google Ads for landscapers by improving usability and reducing bounce rates on high-traffic landing pages.
Proper ARIA usage is especially important for components like custom sliders, tabs, modals, and navigation menus—core elements of conversion-driven landscaping website design.
Example
A custom dropdown menu built with div and span elements might not be accessible by default. By adding ARIA roles like role="menu" and aria-expanded="false", developers inform screen readers about the element’s function and state. For example:
<div role="menu" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0">
<div role="menuitem">Option 1</div>
<div role="menuitem">Option 2</div>
</div>This helps screen readers announce the menu correctly and indicate when it’s expanded or collapsed.