Table of Contents
Why do I need to use both ARIA and HTML5 semantic tags?
Which HTML5 elements will automatically bring ARIA roles?
Under what circumstances should ARIA be added?
1. Supplement missing status information
2. Add semantic roles to non-semantic labels
3. Associate controls and description text
Things to note
Home Web Front-end H5 Tutorial Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

Jul 07, 2025 am 02:54 AM

The reason why ARIA and HTML5 semantic tags are needed is that although HTML5 semantic elements have accessibility meanings, ARIA can supplement semantics and enhance auxiliary technology recognition capabilities. For example, when legacy browsers lack support, components without native tags (such as modal boxes), and state updates need to be dynamically updated, ARIA provides finer granular control. HTML5 elements such as nav, main, aside correspond to ARIA role by default, and do not need to be added manually unless the default behavior needs to be overridden. The situations where ARIA should be added include: 1. Supplement the missing status information, such as using aria-expanded to represent the button expansion/collapse status; 2. Add semantic roles to non-semantic tags, such as using div role to implement tabs and cooperate with tabindex and aria-selected; 3. Associate controls and description text, such as using aria-describedby to associate the input box with the prompt text. Notes include not repeatedly setting existing semantics, not overwriting the original semantics incorrectly, and not adding attributes randomly when uncertain.

Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

Adding ARIA attributes to HTML5 semantic elements is actually a common but error-prone approach. It’s not that everything will be fine if you use <nav></nav> or <main></main> . Sometimes ARIA is needed to supplement semantics or enhance the recognition ability of assistive technology.

Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

Why do I need to use both ARIA and HTML5 semantic tags?

The semantic elements of HTML5 (such as <header></header> , <footer></footer> , <nav></nav> , <article></article> , etc.) have certain accessibility meanings and can help screen readers identify the page structure. But in some scenarios, these default behaviors are not accurate or flexible enough.

Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

For example:

  • Some older browsers or assistive technologies may not support new semantic tags well enough;
  • Some components (such as modal boxes, tabs) do not have corresponding native HTML tags;
  • ARIA provides finer granular control when dynamic updates are required (such as whether the button is selected and whether the content is expanded).

So, ARIA is a supplement, not a substitute.

Using ARIA attributes with HTML5 semantic elements for accessibility

Which HTML5 elements will automatically bring ARIA roles?

Many HTML5 semantic tags actually correspond to an ARIA role at the bottom. for example:

  • <nav></nav> corresponding role="navigation"
  • <main></main> corresponding role="main"
  • <aside></aside> corresponding role="complementary"
  • <section></section> is usually processed as role="region" (if with a title)

This means you don't need to manually add these roles unless you want to override the default behavior or to be compatible with certain special cases.

Note, however: if you write a div yourself and set it to navigation with role, it won't appear in the accessibility tree like a real <nav></nav> unless you manually add other properties to make it "focusable".

Under what circumstances should ARIA be added?

1. Supplement missing status information

For example, a toggle button (folding panel), <button></button> alone cannot tell the user whether it is currently "expanded" or "collapsed". At this time, you can use aria-expanded :

 <button aria-expanded="false">Expand more</button>

After clicking JS dynamically modify this value, the screen reader can read out the status changes.

2. Add semantic roles to non-semantic labels

If you have to implement some kind of interactive component (such as tabs, menu) with <div> or <span> , you need to use ARIA to define its role and behavior:

 <div role="tablist">
  <div role="tab" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0">Tab One</div>
  <div role="tab" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1">Tab Two</div>
</div>

Not only role is used here, but also tabindex is used to control the focus order. aria-selected indicates the current activation status.

3. Associate controls and description text

For example, there is a prompt text next to the form field, and you want the screen reader to read it, so you can:

 <label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" aria-describedby="username-tip">
<p id="username-tip">Please enter your registered email as your username. </p>

This way, when the input box gains focus, the screen reader will also read out the description information.

Things to note

  • Do not repeatedly set existing semantics. For example, <button></button> already has role="button", and you don't need to write it again.
  • Avoid incorrectly overwriting original semantics. For example, forcibly setting <a></a> to role="button" may cause keyboard navigation to fail.
  • If you are not sure about the function of an ARIA attribute, check the MDN or WAI-ARIA official documentation first and do not add it randomly.

Basically that's it. If used well, ARIA can improve the accessibility experience; if used poorly, it will destroy native behavior. The key is to understand the meaning of each attribute and its relationship to the HTML5 semantics.

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