SEMANTIC HTML AND ACCESIBILITY

felix kagecha - Nov 6 - - Dev Community

*Introduction*
Semantic HTML refers to a topic that deals with the utilization of HTML tags that describe the meaning of the items enclosed in the tag in question. It includes tags such as , , , , and among others. These tags provide a lengthy description of the content that is contained within web and can be of great help to both search engines as well as Web accessibility.
A) SEO Benefits:
a) Indexing and Ranking:
Companies like Google employ crawling in the acquisition of information found in the web pages. This makes these crawlers to have a better index of that structure and that meaning of that content than other crawlers. For instance, enveloping the blog posts or the news articles with the tags helps the search engines in the determination of the main content of the page, thus increasing the efficiency of the search.
b) Relevance and Quality:
Some of the applications of semantic tags are utilized in making of search engine conclusions on the relative relevance of a certain website to a particular search query. This might increase the effectiveness of the results of the search and increase the probability of attaining better rank. For instance, a tag pertains to the navigation links of the site and this is understandable to a search engine as a feature of the site’s architecture such as a navigation system.
B) The Impact of Semantic HTML to SEO Performance:
How the Use of Semantic HTML Affects the SEO Performance?
Most of the time, it is observed that the websites, which have converted to the semantic HTML get better ranking on search engines. For instance, Semantic usage of headers such as and footers such as is also very useful in increasing SEO as it assists in categorizing content between, at the start and end of it.
a) Accessibility Improvements:
Screen Readers and Assistive Technologies: This has shortened web sites’ content for the screen reader in a manner, which enhances their understanding of it, through the semantic HTML. Again, it is believed that tags like , , enhance context and listen so that both screen readers and people who listen to the page. For instance, such tags as let all the assistive technologies know that the contents of the enclosing tag, which is a navigation menu, can be skipped and go straight to the content.
b) Inclusive Web Experience:
Using semantic HTML ensures that web content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This is crucial for creating an inclusive web experience. For instance, tags used for images and their captions help users understand the context of images, improving the overall accessibility.
c)Usability of Semantic HTML
Proper use of semantic HTML can enhance usability for people with disabilities. For example, using tags with form elements improves form accessibility by associating labels with their respective inputs.

Key Semantic Tags for SEO:

: This element usually contains introductory content, such as logos, navigation, or page titles. Search engines recognize it as a section containing important metadata for the page.
: Represents a self-contained piece of content that can stand alone (e.g., blog posts, news articles). Search engines can index articles more effectively and understand them as individual units of content.
: Used to group related content together. This helps search engines recognize different sections of a page and understand the overall structure of the content.
: This tag marks the navigation links, helping search engines know what links are part of the site's main navigation and which links are critical for understanding site structure.
: Defines the footer section of a page or article, typically containing metadata like copyright information, contact details, and external links. This structure helps search engines identify supplementary information.

How Semantic HTML Aids screen readers and other assistive technologies in interpreting web content ?

Semantic HTML is crucial for making web content accessible to people with disabilities, especially those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers. These technologies interpret web content in a way that provides users with an alternative means of understanding and interacting with websites.

here is an example

Forms



    <h1>Coffee Shop</h1>

    <ul>
    <li>
        <a href="Introduction%20about%20coffee">Introduction About coffee</a>
    </li>
    <li>
        <a href="Key%20Areas%20to%20get%20coffee">Key Arreas to get Coffee</a>
    </li>
    <li>
        <a href="Advantages%20of%20Taking%20coffee">Advantages of Taking coffee</a>
    </li>
    </ul>
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<h2>Facts about Coffee</h2>
    <p>Coffee is one of the most popular beverages there is, with billions of cups enjoyed every year. Given that coffee is so well loved around the world, it’s only natural for us to want to know more about our favourite brew. That’s why we at NESCAFÉ® have compiled this list of our favourite coffee fun facts for you.</p>
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Contact us : abx@gmail.com

With semantic HTML: A user could hear "coffee shop: followed by "Navigation: ," then the main content, "Introduction about coffee ", key arrers to get coffee,advntages of taking coffee, facts about coffee the footer "Footer: Contact us."

Without semantic HTML: The user might hear the page read out as one large chunk of text without any structural clues, making it hard to distinguish between the header, content, and footer.

*Conclusion: The Double Benefit of Semantic HTML
*
The use of semantic HTML is a win-win for both SEO and web accessibility. For SEO, semantic tags help search engines better understand the structure, context, and relevance of the content on a page. This improved understanding enhances the page's chances of ranking higher in search results.

For accessibility, semantic HTML ensures that the content is more usable and navigable for people with disabilities, particularly those relying on screen readers or keyboard navigation. By providing a well-structured and meaningful page layout, semantic HTML allows assistive technologies to deliver a more coherent and effective user experience.

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