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What Is a Screen Reader? How Assistive Technologies Understand Webpages
Screen readers use the accessibility tree to announce content, roles, states, and names so users can navigate and operate websites.
Key Takeaways
- A screen reader does not simply read visible text.
- It relies on semantic HTML, ARIA, accessible names, and states.
- Automated tools help, but real interaction testing is still needed.
Why developers need to understand it
If DOM semantics, labels, states, or focus management are wrong, screen reader users receive wrong or incomplete information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can automated checks confirm screen reader experience?
Not completely. Keyboard and assistive technology testing are still needed.
Related Pages
- Accesserty DevCheck
Run browser-based checks for web accessibility, WCAG, ARIA, keyboard access, and visual contexts.
- WCAG testing checklist