Accessibility Guide
Next.js Accessibility Guide
Updated
Next.js gives developers full control over rendered HTML, making it possible to build highly accessible applications — but React's component model can also hide accessibility problems. Client-side routing, dynamic content loading, and component libraries all introduce potential barriers that server-rendered HTML avoids.
Common Next.js accessibility issues
Client-side navigation without route announcements
Next.js Link component changes pages without a full reload, so screen readers don't announce the new page. An aria-live region is needed.
seriousDynamic content loaded without ARIA live regions
Content fetched client-side (loading states, infinite scroll, form results) isn't announced to screen readers without aria-live attributes.
seriousComponent library elements missing ARIA attributes
Custom UI components (modals, dropdowns, tabs) from npm packages may lack proper roles, states, and keyboard handling.
criticalImages in next/image without alt text
The Next.js Image component requires alt but developers often leave it as an empty string even for informative images.
seriousFocus not managed on modal open/close
React portals and modals often don't trap focus or return it to the trigger element on close.
seriousHow to fix Next.js accessibility
Use next/link with an aria-live region to announce route changes to screen readers
Use Radix UI or Headless UI — they handle ARIA roles and keyboard navigation correctly
Always provide meaningful alt text for informative images; use alt='' only for decorative ones
Run next lint — it includes jsx-a11y rules that catch common issues at build time
Add a focus trap to modals and return focus to the trigger element on close
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