Identify Purpose takes this to the next level by making sure that assistive technologies, like screen readers and browser extensions, can understand and personalize content for users. It’s about making the web smarter and more adaptable for everyone.
Who this impacts
- People with cognitive impairments: They benefit from personalized experiences that reduce complexity and focus on what’s important.
- People using assistive technologies: Screen readers and other tools can provide a more tailored experience when the purpose of content is properly identified.
- People with visual impairments: When form fields and buttons are identified by purpose, it makes navigation easier.
- People with learning disabilities: Adjusting how content is presented can help make information easier to process.
- Everyone: A personalized web experience makes content more relevant and user-friendly for all.
How to meet Identify Purpose
- Use semantic markup and ARIA roles: Ensure that key parts of your content—like buttons, forms, and menus—are properly labeled in the code to indicate their purpose.
- Enable content to adapt: Structure your content so that assistive technologies and personalization tools can modify it based on the user’s preferences.
- Include clear roles and descriptions: Make sure every form field, button, and menu is clearly identified by its function and purpose.
- Test with personalization tools: Ensure your site works well with browser extensions, assistive technologies, and other tools that personalize the user experience.
Top tips
- Prioritize key interactions: Focus on identifying important elements like form inputs, calls to action, and navigation links.
- Label buttons and links clearly: Use descriptive text like “Submit payment” instead of “Click here” to identify the purpose of interactive elements.
- Optimize for personalization: Design your content in a way that can adapt to user preferences, whether through CSS, ARIA roles, or other methods.
- Check for compatibility: Make sure your site’s content and structure work well with tools designed to personalize the web for users with disabilities.