accessibilityscanners

Accessibility scanners are software tools designed to automatically identify accessibility barriers in digital products such as websites and mobile apps. They help developers and evaluators check conformance with accessibility guidelines such as WCAG, Section 508, and platform-specific requirements.

They operate by analyzing the user interface, code, and content to detect issues such as insufficient color contrast, missing alternative text for images, missing or misused ARIA roles, improper semantic markup, and keyboard navigation problems. Scanners can be implemented as static analysis of source code or dynamic analysis of running applications, or both. They generate reports with issues, severity levels, and recommended fixes; many allow integration into CI pipelines.

Limitations include false positives, false negatives, and the inability to assess non-visual accessibility aspects such as cognitive load or content comprehensibility. Automated checks cannot replace human testing that involves screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and real user feedback. Scanners are most effective when used as a first-pass filter or as part of a broader accessibility program.

Common tools include axe-core (and products built on it), Lighthouse, WAVE, and Tenon for web accessibility; for mobile, platform-specific tools exist, such as Android accessibility testing tools and iOS accessibility inspectors. Some tools provide plug-ins for browsers, integration with continuous integration systems, and reporting dashboards.

Best practices entail running scanners across multiple pages and devices, prioritizing issues by WCAG criteria, combining automated results with manual testing, and documenting remediation steps. Over time, scanners help establish baseline accessibility quality and support ongoing improvements.