Why Accessibility Testing Matters
Accessibility testing is a critical part of modern web development. With over 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, ensuring your website works for everyone is not just ethically important—it's also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.
Categories of Accessibility Testing Tools
Accessibility testing tools generally fall into several categories:
Top Browser Extensions
axe DevTools
The axe browser extension by Deque is considered the industry standard for accessibility testing. Key features include:
WAVE
The WAVE extension from WebAIM provides visual feedback directly on the page:
Lighthouse
Built into Chrome DevTools, Lighthouse provides comprehensive audits:
Automated Testing Frameworks
axe-core
The open-source engine behind axe DevTools, axe-core integrates into your CI/CD pipeline for automated testing.
Pa11y
Pa11y offers command-line accessibility testing with multiple runners, making it ideal for CI/CD integration.
Playwright + axe
Combine Playwright's powerful browser automation with axe-core for comprehensive end-to-end accessibility testing.
Screen Reader Testing
Automated tools only catch 30-40% of accessibility issues. Screen reader testing is essential.
NVDA (Windows)
VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
JAWS (Windows)
Color Contrast Tools
Conclusion
No single tool catches all accessibility issues. Build a comprehensive testing strategy that combines automated testing, manual testing, and user testing.