ARIAcurrent

aria-current is an ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attribute used to indicate the element that represents the current item within a container or set of related elements. It helps assistive technology identify the current page, step, location, or date/time in navigational components such as menus, breadcrumbs, tabs, and progress indicators.

The attribute can take several values. The common value aria-current="page" marks the current page in a navigation list. Other enumerated values describe the kind of current item, including "step," "location," "date," and "time." A boolean form is also supported: aria-current="true" indicates the current item without specifying a category, while aria-current="false" removes current status. If the value is not present, the element is not announced as current.

Usage: apply aria-current to the element that represents the current item within its container. Ensure that the attribute is used in contexts where only one item is current at a time, such as a breadcrumb trail or a navigation menu. It is often applied to anchor elements, but can also appear on other interactive elements or non-interactive ones when paired with appropriate semantics.

Examples and accessibility considerations: In HTML, a typical breadcrumb item could be <a href="/" aria-current="page">Home</a> for the current page. Assistive technologies rely on aria-current to announce the current item; ensure visible cues also indicate the current state and avoid relying on aria-current alone. Use with proper focus management and contrast to support all users.