Accessibility Guide
Gatsby Accessibility Guide
Gatsby's static site generation gives it a strong accessibility baseline — content is available in HTML before JavaScript loads. But Gatsby's client-side routing, plugin ecosystem, and image optimization can introduce accessibility gaps if not configured properly.
Common Gatsby accessibility issues
gatsby-image/gatsby-plugin-image missing alt text
Gatsby's image components optimize performance but developers often skip the alt attribute or pass empty strings.
seriousClient-side routing without page announcements
Gatsby uses @reach/router which has basic accessibility support, but route changes may still not be announced in all screen readers.
seriousThird-party plugins injecting inaccessible markup
Gatsby plugins for analytics, chat widgets, and marketing tools can inject HTML that breaks accessibility.
moderateMDX content without semantic structure
Blog content written in MDX can skip heading levels or use custom components that lack ARIA attributes.
moderateFocus management on page transitions
After a client-side navigation, focus may remain on the previous page's element instead of moving to the new content.
seriousHow to fix Gatsby accessibility
Always provide meaningful alt text to gatsby-plugin-image's GatsbyImage component
Use gatsby-plugin-a11y during development — it highlights accessibility violations on screen
Add a skip link component in your layout that targets #main-content
Set focus to the main content area after route changes using Gatsby's onRouteUpdate API
Audit third-party plugins by checking their rendered HTML with axe DevTools
Scan your Gatsby site now
Get a full WCAG 2.2 compliance report with every violation, affected elements, and fix instructions — delivered as a professional PDF in 60 seconds.