Writing clean, valid code is crucial for creating websites that are accessible, functional, and compatible across different browsers and devices.
Standards compliance not only ensures that your website adheres to best practices, but it also plays a vital role in accessibility. Validating your code is a key step in this process, helping to identify and fix errors that could otherwise hinder people.
Why validate code?
- Enhanced accessibility: Valid code is easier for assistive technologies to interpret, making your site more accessible to people using screen readers or other tools.
- Cross-browser consistency: Standards-compliant code is more likely to render uniformly across browsers, providing a consistent experience.
- Better performance: Cleaner code often translates to faster load times, which helps people with slower connections.
- SEO benefits: Search engines favor sites that follow best practices, which can improve rankings.
- Easier maintenance: Valid code is more readable, making updates and troubleshooting easier.
How code validation supports accessibility
- Assistive technology compatibility: Tools like screen readers rely on structured, valid code to present content accurately.
- Clear structure: Valid HTML ensures that headings, lists, and navigation are logically presented, making navigation straightforward.
- Error prevention: Validation catches coding errors that could break accessibility features, improving usability for everyone.
Tools for validating code
W3C markup validation service
- How to use: Enter your page URL, upload a file, or paste code to check for HTML standards compliance.
- Report: Provides a detailed report of errors and warnings with suggested fixes.
CSS validation service (W3C)
- How to use: Similar to the Markup Validator, but for CSS. Enter your stylesheet URL, upload a file, or paste CSS code.
- Report: Highlights errors and potential issues with your CSS.
IDE validation
- Real-time feedback: Many IDEs (like Visual Studio Code) highlight errors as you code, providing immediate fixes.
Techniques for standards compliance
- Use semantic HTML: Structure content with elements like
<header>,<nav>,<main>, etc., to provide context and make navigation easier for assistive tools. - Close all tags: Ensure all HTML tags are properly closed, preventing rendering issues that impact accessibility.
- Include Alt attributes for images: Add descriptive alt text to images, making them accessible to screen readers.
- Validate forms: Label form fields properly and indicate required fields to improve usability, especially for screen reader users.
- Minimize inline styles and scripts: Use external stylesheets and JavaScript files instead of inline code to keep HTML clean and easy to maintain.
Common validation pitfalls
- Ignoring warnings: Warnings often indicate potential issues affecting accessibility. Address them as part of your validation process.
- Overlooking CSS and JavaScript: Validate CSS and JavaScript as well—errors in these files can impact both functionality and presentation.
- Assuming browser testing equals validation: Visual checks in a browser don’t reveal underlying issues. Always validate code to ensure compliance.