--- name: screen-reader-testing description: Test web applications with screen readers including VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS. Use when validating screen reader compatibility, debugging accessibility issues, or ensuring assistive technology support. --- # Screen Reader Testing Practical guide to testing web applications with screen readers for comprehensive accessibility validation. ## When to Use This Skill - Validating screen reader compatibility - Testing ARIA implementations - Debugging assistive technology issues - Verifying form accessibility - Testing dynamic content announcements - Ensuring navigation accessibility ## Core Concepts ### 1. Major Screen Readers | Screen Reader | Platform | Browser | Usage | | ------------- | --------- | -------------- | ----- | | **VoiceOver** | macOS/iOS | Safari | ~15% | | **NVDA** | Windows | Firefox/Chrome | ~31% | | **JAWS** | Windows | Chrome/IE | ~40% | | **TalkBack** | Android | Chrome | ~10% | | **Narrator** | Windows | Edge | ~4% | ### 2. Testing Priority ``` Minimum Coverage: 1. NVDA + Firefox (Windows) 2. VoiceOver + Safari (macOS) 3. VoiceOver + Safari (iOS) Comprehensive Coverage: + JAWS + Chrome (Windows) + TalkBack + Chrome (Android) + Narrator + Edge (Windows) ``` ### 3. Screen Reader Modes | Mode | Purpose | When Used | | ------------------ | ---------------------- | ----------------- | | **Browse/Virtual** | Read content | Default reading | | **Focus/Forms** | Interact with controls | Filling forms | | **Application** | Custom widgets | ARIA applications | ## VoiceOver (macOS) ### Setup ``` Enable: System Preferences → Accessibility → VoiceOver Toggle: Cmd + F5 Quick Toggle: Triple-press Touch ID ``` ### Essential Commands ``` Navigation: VO = Ctrl + Option (VoiceOver modifier) VO + Right Arrow Next element VO + Left Arrow Previous element VO + Shift + Down Enter group VO + Shift + Up Exit group Reading: VO + A Read all from cursor Ctrl Stop speaking VO + B Read current paragraph Interaction: VO + Space Activate element VO + Shift + M Open menu Tab Next focusable element Shift + Tab Previous focusable element Rotor (VO + U): Navigate by: Headings, Links, Forms, Landmarks Left/Right Arrow Change rotor category Up/Down Arrow Navigate within category Enter Go to item Web Specific: VO + Cmd + H Next heading VO + Cmd + J Next form control VO + Cmd + L Next link VO + Cmd + T Next table ``` ### Testing Checklist ```markdown ## VoiceOver Testing Checklist ### Page Load - [ ] Page title announced - [ ] Main landmark found - [ ] Skip link works ### Navigation - [ ] All headings discoverable via rotor - [ ] Heading levels logical (H1 → H2 → H3) - [ ] Landmarks properly labeled - [ ] Skip links functional ### Links & Buttons - [ ] Link purpose clear - [ ] Button actions described - [ ] New window/tab announced ### Forms - [ ] All labels read with inputs - [ ] Required fields announced - [ ] Error messages read - [ ] Instructions available - [ ] Focus moves to errors ### Dynamic Content - [ ] Alerts announced immediately - [ ] Loading states communicated - [ ] Content updates announced - [ ] Modals trap focus correctly ### Tables - [ ] Headers associated with cells - [ ] Table navigation works - [ ] Complex tables have captions ``` ### Common Issues & Fixes ```html

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Invalid email Invalid email ``` ## NVDA (Windows) ### Setup ``` Download: nvaccess.org Start: Ctrl + Alt + N Stop: Insert + Q ``` ### Essential Commands ``` Navigation: Insert = NVDA modifier Down Arrow Next line Up Arrow Previous line Tab Next focusable Shift + Tab Previous focusable Reading: NVDA + Down Arrow Say all Ctrl Stop speech NVDA + Up Arrow Current line Headings: H Next heading Shift + H Previous heading 1-6 Heading level 1-6 Forms: F Next form field B Next button E Next edit field X Next checkbox C Next combo box Links: K Next link U Next unvisited link V Next visited link Landmarks: D Next landmark Shift + D Previous landmark Tables: T Next table Ctrl + Alt + Arrows Navigate cells Elements List (NVDA + F7): Shows all links, headings, form fields, landmarks ``` ### Browse vs Focus Mode ``` NVDA automatically switches modes: - Browse Mode: Arrow keys navigate content - Focus Mode: Arrow keys control interactive elements Manual switch: NVDA + Space Watch for: - "Browse mode" announcement when navigating - "Focus mode" when entering form fields - Application role forces forms mode ``` ### Testing Script ```markdown ## NVDA Test Script ### Initial Load 1. Navigate to page 2. Let page finish loading 3. Press Insert + Down to read all 4. Note: Page title, main content identified? ### Landmark Navigation 1. Press D repeatedly 2. Check: All main areas reachable? 3. Check: Landmarks properly labeled? ### Heading Navigation 1. Press Insert + F7 → Headings 2. Check: Logical heading structure? 3. Press H to navigate headings 4. Check: All sections discoverable? ### Form Testing 1. Press F to find first form field 2. Check: Label read? 3. Fill in invalid data 4. Submit form 5. Check: Errors announced? 6. Check: Focus moved to error? ### Interactive Elements 1. Tab through all interactive elements 2. Check: Each announces role and state 3. Activate buttons with Enter/Space 4. Check: Result announced? ### Dynamic Content 1. Trigger content update 2. Check: Change announced? 3. Open modal 4. Check: Focus trapped? 5. Close modal 6. Check: Focus returns? ``` ## JAWS (Windows) ### Essential Commands ``` Start: Desktop shortcut or Ctrl + Alt + J Virtual Cursor: Auto-enabled in browsers Navigation: Arrow keys Navigate content Tab Next focusable Insert + Down Read all Ctrl Stop speech Quick Keys: H Next heading T Next table F Next form field B Next button G Next graphic L Next list ; Next landmark Forms Mode: Enter Enter forms mode Numpad + Exit forms mode F5 List form fields Lists: Insert + F7 Link list Insert + F6 Heading list Insert + F5 Form field list Tables: Ctrl + Alt + Arrows Table navigation ``` ## TalkBack (Android) ### Setup ``` Enable: Settings → Accessibility → TalkBack Toggle: Hold both volume buttons 3 seconds ``` ### Gestures ``` Explore: Drag finger across screen Next: Swipe right Previous: Swipe left Activate: Double tap Scroll: Two finger swipe Reading Controls (swipe up then right): - Headings - Links - Controls - Characters - Words - Lines - Paragraphs ``` ## Common Test Scenarios ### 1. Modal Dialog ```html ``` ```javascript // Focus management function openModal(modal) { // Store last focused element lastFocus = document.activeElement; // Move focus to modal modal.querySelector("h2").focus(); // Trap focus modal.addEventListener("keydown", trapFocus); } function closeModal(modal) { // Return focus lastFocus.focus(); } function trapFocus(e) { if (e.key === "Tab") { const focusable = modal.querySelectorAll( 'button, [href], input, select, textarea, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])', ); const first = focusable[0]; const last = focusable[focusable.length - 1]; if (e.shiftKey && document.activeElement === first) { last.focus(); e.preventDefault(); } else if (!e.shiftKey && document.activeElement === last) { first.focus(); e.preventDefault(); } } if (e.key === "Escape") { closeModal(modal); } } ``` ### 2. Live Regions ```html

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``` ```javascript // Tab keyboard navigation tablist.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => { const tabs = [...tablist.querySelectorAll('[role="tab"]')]; const index = tabs.indexOf(document.activeElement); let newIndex; switch (e.key) { case "ArrowRight": newIndex = (index + 1) % tabs.length; break; case "ArrowLeft": newIndex = (index - 1 + tabs.length) % tabs.length; break; case "Home": newIndex = 0; break; case "End": newIndex = tabs.length - 1; break; default: return; } tabs[newIndex].focus(); activateTab(tabs[newIndex]); e.preventDefault(); }); ``` ## Debugging Tips ```javascript // Log what screen reader sees function logAccessibleName(element) { const computed = window.getComputedStyle(element); console.log({ role: element.getAttribute("role") || element.tagName, name: element.getAttribute("aria-label") || element.getAttribute("aria-labelledby") || element.textContent, state: { expanded: element.getAttribute("aria-expanded"), selected: element.getAttribute("aria-selected"), checked: element.getAttribute("aria-checked"), disabled: element.disabled, }, visible: computed.display !== "none" && computed.visibility !== "hidden", }); } ``` ## Best Practices ### Do's - **Test with actual screen readers** - Not just simulators - **Use semantic HTML first** - ARIA is supplemental - **Test in browse and focus modes** - Different experiences - **Verify focus management** - Especially for SPAs - **Test keyboard only first** - Foundation for SR testing ### Don'ts - **Don't assume one SR is enough** - Test multiple - **Don't ignore mobile** - Growing user base - **Don't test only happy path** - Test error states - **Don't skip dynamic content** - Most common issues - **Don't rely on visual testing** - Different experience