Welcome to the Barrier-Free Terminology Glossary

If you’re new to digital accessibility, you’ve probably come across terms that sound confusing or overly technical. This glossary was created to explain the most common accessibility terms in clear, everyday language—so you can feel confident understanding what they mean and why they matter.

Whether you're working on your own site, collaborating with a developer, or just starting your accessibility journey, this page is here to help.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Accessibility (a11y)

The practice of making websites, tools, and content usable by people with disabilities.

Alt Text

A short description added to images that screen readers can read aloud. It helps people who can’t see the image understand what it shows or why it’s there.

Assistive Technology (AT)

Any device or software used by people with disabilities to interact with computers. This includes screen readers, voice recognition software, screen magnifiers, and more.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

Code that helps screen readers understand and interact with complex website features like menus, sliders, or popups.

B

Barrier-Free Design

A design approach that removes obstacles so everyone can access and use your website. It focuses on inclusion from the start, not as an afterthought.

C

Color Contrast

The difference in brightness between text and its background. High contrast makes content easier to read for people with low vision or color blindness.

F

Focus Indicator

The outline or highlight that shows which element is selected when tabbing through a site with a keyboard.

K

Keyboard Navigation

Using the keyboard (instead of a mouse) to move around a website. Essential for people with motor disabilities or those using screen readers.

O

Overlay

A third-party tool that tries to “fix” accessibility issues automatically. Many overlays actually create problems and interfere with assistive tech.

P

Plain Language

Writing that’s easy to read, understand, and act on. Plain language helps everyone, including people with cognitive disabilities.

S

Screen Reader

A tool that reads website text out loud for people who are blind or have low vision. It reads everything from headings to links to image alt text.

Semantic HTML

Using proper HTML tags (like for headings or for buttons) so that assistive tech knows how to interpret your content.

Skip Link

A hidden link that lets users jump straight to the main content, skipping menus or headers. Great for screen reader and keyboard users.

U

Usability

How easy and pleasant a website is to use. Good usability benefits everyone, especially people with cognitive or physical challenges.

W

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

A set of international standards that explain how to make websites accessible. Most laws and best practices are based on WCAG.