Key Takeaways
- The first rule of ARIA: do not use ARIA if a native HTML element provides the semantics. `<button>` beats `<div role='button'>`.
- ARIA is essential for custom widgets (tabs, accordions, modals) that native HTML cannot fully describe to assistive technology.
- aria-live regions announce dynamic content changes to screen readers, critical for SPAs and real-time updates.
Essential ARIA Patterns
| Pattern | Key ARIA | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Modal dialog | role='dialog', aria-modal='true', aria-labelledby | Announce dialog, trap focus inside |
| Tabs | role='tablist/tab/tabpanel', aria-selected | Navigate between tab panels |
| Accordion | aria-expanded, aria-controls | Communicate open/closed state |
| Dropdown menu | role='menu/menuitem', aria-haspopup | Navigate menu items with keyboard |
| Live region | aria-live='polite/assertive' | Announce dynamic content updates |
Use component libraries (shadcn/ui, Radix, Headless UI) that implement these ARIA patterns correctly. Building accessible custom widgets from scratch is error-prone and time-consuming.
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