In our modern digital age, nothing is more necessary than inclusivity. As websites become ever more central to business functionality, learning, and social activity, it is ever more essential that everyone have the same access to a site's content and functionality. One of the lesser-discussed aspects of web accessibility is iconography. While icons are utilized all the time to facilitate navigation and make the user experience a bit easier, they can also provide a hurdle if done without accessibility in mind.

At IconFair, we know how crucial it is to design with inclusivity in mind. In this article, we're going to explore the value of accessibility in icon use and how you can make your website more inclusive for everyone by keeping an eye on design, implementation, and testing of icons.

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility means ensuring that people with various disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the web. This includes individuals who may have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as the main framework for building websites that are inclusive and accessible.

Accessibility is not a matter of complying with the law or steering clear of discrimination; it's about delivering a fair experience to all users. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 15% of the world's population lives with a disability of some sort. By prioritizing accessibility, you are making it possible for a massive audience to use your content.

Why Icons Matter for Accessibility

Icons are graphical representations of actions, objects, or ideas. They are employed to simplify interactions and enhance the user interface (UI) for ease of use. A shopping cart icon, for instance, assists users in easily recognizing where to look at their items, while a magnifying glass is used to represent a search feature.

If used well, icons can reduce navigation, make information more comprehensible, and increase the overall user experience. But if icons are inaccessible, they can reverse the process, causing confusion or leaving out users who use assistive technology.

Icon Challenges in Web Accessibility

Icons pose some challenges for web accessibility, which are:

Ambiguity: Icons might be abstract and, therefore, might not specifically illustrate their intended meaning to all.

Absence of Context: Icons tend to come without additional text or context, thus are more difficult to interpret for those with cognitive impairments.

Visual Impairment: Those who have visual impairment will find icons difficult to decipher when they are too small in size, contain poor contrast, or are poorly described for use with screen readers.

Cognitive Load: Icons, if improperly utilized, can contribute to cognitive load by demanding users to interpret abstract symbols without sufficient guidance or context.

In striving for inclusivity, we must overcome these challenges and ensure icons improve, not complicate, the user experience.

How to Make Icons Accessible

At IconFair, we feel that providing accessible icons isn't just good practice; it's a necessity. Here are the most important strategies to help make your icons accessible to every user:

1. Provide Text Alternatives (Alt Text)

The most important action in making icons available is to offer descriptive alternative text (alt text). Alt text is a description for images and icons when they cannot be displayed, especially for the visually impaired users who use screen readers. It's crucial that your alt text tells about the function of the icon, rather than how it looks.

For instance:

A magnifying glass icon for search must have an alt attribute such as: "Search icon"

A trash can icon for deletion must have an alt attribute such as: "Delete item"

Being concise but informative in the alt text is necessary when writing alt text. The action or intention of the icon must be clearly described.

2. Provide Adequate Contrast

Visual contrast is important for color blind users or users with low vision. Icons must have enough contrast from their background so that they can be seen by all users. Generally, the WCAG suggests a contrast of at least 4.5:1 between text and background for regular text, and 3:1 for large text.

When creating icons, make sure to employ high-contrast colors that are visible. Don't overuse color alone to provide information (e.g., a red icon for warning) because people with color blindness won't be able to see it as it's meant to be seen. Instead, differentiate icons by means of varying shapes or patterns alongside color.

3. Use Clear Labels and Context

Icons must be used in conjunction with text labels or tooltips wherever possible. Although icons are convenient for power users, novices or people with cognitive impairments will not necessarily have any idea what an icon means. Including a text label below or next to the icon can make its purpose clearer.

For instance, the "home" icon would be best accompanied by the term "Home" so that users can immediately know what action the icon signifies. For visually impaired users, this text-icon combination gives a much better signal of the purpose of the page.

 

4. Use Consistent and Familiar Icons

Consistency is key to icon design. Users must be able to easily recognize and comprehend icons since they're being used with standardized or widely recognized symbols. A floppy disk icon, for instance, is recognized everywhere as "save," and a magnifying glass is generally used for "search."

By employing consistent icons, you minimize cognitive load for your users and ease their navigation process. Never create unique icons that deviate from usual conventions if not required.

At IconFair, we provide a collection of user-friendly, pre-designed icons that can make it easy for you to stay consistent throughout your site. These icons are accessibility designed, so they are an excellent element to incorporate into any inclusive website design.

5. Make Icons Interactive Accessible

If an icon is being used as an interactive element (e.g., a button or link), it is important to make it fully accessible. This involves making sure that the icon is keyboard-focusable and that screen readers can use it successfully. 

Keyboard Navigation: Make sure icons are focusable and activatable by a keyboard. This is particularly necessary for users who have no mouse to use.

Focus States: Give precise visual focus cues, such as a border or highlight, when the icon receives focus (through keyboard navigation or otherwise).

Aria Labels: When the icon is for a definite purpose (such as submitting a form), utilize ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes such as aria-label to give screen readers additional context about the purpose of the icon.

6. Use Descriptive and Intuitive Icon Design

The icon's design itself is also important for accessibility. An icon must depict the action it represents and be easily understandable at a glance.

Simplicity: Make icons simple and not too complex in design, which can confuse users.

Scalability: Icons must be scalable and readable on various screen sizes, ranging from mobile screens to large desktop screens.

Recognition: Icons that look like the object or action they symbolize are easier to recognize. A trash can icon for deleting or a shopping cart icon for looking at purchases, for instance, is instantly recognizable.

7. Test Icons for Accessibility

Just as you test other aspects of your website for accessibility, you should test your icons as well. This may include:

Automated Tools: Use accessibility tools like Lighthouse or Axe to identify accessibility issues with your icons, such as missing alt text or contrast problems.

User Testing: Conduct usability tests with people who have different disabilities. They can provide valuable feedback on how accessible and effective your icons are.

Screen Reader Testing: Use screen readers to test your website so that all icons are well-labeled and are accessible to users with visual disabilities.

8. Keep Yourself Informed on Accessibility Guidelines

Accessibility is not a static activity but a dynamic process. The web accessibility guidelines are continually changing to keep pace with new technology and user requirements. Check regularly for the most recent changes to WCAG and other accessibility guidelines to make sure that your icons, as well as your site as a whole, are still accessible to all users.

Conclusion

Incorporating your website into a place of accessibility for everyone is vital in the digital world today. Icons, no matter how tiny, have an important contribution to web accessibility. Through concentrating on giving alt text, providing adequate contrast, using obvious labels, and testing your icons, you can create your website as an accessible environment for all people, no matter their capabilities.

At IconFair, we're dedicated to delivering icons that not only add to the user experience but also follow best practices for accessibility. Adopting these tips into your workflow will not only make your website more accessible but also enable you to engage with a larger, more diverse audience.