Interpret an automated accessibility report
Define tested pages and states, inspect warnings and add keyboard journeys and a content review.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
An automated report describes what a tool could inspect in a particular state. It can identify barriers, but it does not automatically observe every journey or judge every piece of content.
Retain tool, date, pages and tested states. For each warning, find the element and rule. Add manual checks of keyboard use, meaningful labels, text alternatives and understandable errors.
Examples to adapt
Attribute presence does not establish that the text communicates useful information. Review it in the page’s context.
A loading-time report can miss invalid-input states. Use fictional data without sending a real request.
Follow the method
- 1Define scope
List representative pages and useful states: open menu, invalid form or expanded content. A homepage check does not describe the whole site.
- 2Read a specific warning
Record selector, rule and explanation. Distinguish confirmed errors from points requiring human review. Keep a screenshot when it helps reproduction.
- 3Try a journey
Without a mouse, find navigation, open a section and use a test form. Check focus order, labels and the ability to return.
- 4Correct and repeat
Fix the shared component when multiple pages are affected. Repeat the same check and the affected journey. Record remaining human checks.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record your observations. They are a reading aid, not an automatic assessment.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Pages, states and device | Record |
| Warning | Element and rule | Inspect |
| Keyboard | Focus, order and actions | Try |
| Meaning | Labels, alt and errors | Review |
| Repeat | Same check after correction | Compare |
Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.
What to check
A high score is not a conformance statement.
No automated warning does not guarantee no barrier.
Zoom and keyboard checks add observations without replacing a full evaluation.
Common questions
Can I announce accessibility after one test?
Describe the performed check and its limits. A conformance statement requires appropriate scope and methodology.
Must I install several tools?
Choose a tool for the task and add checks it does not cover. More scores alone do not broaden scope.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.
Reference record for this resource
Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.
Read the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative record →