Icons are everywhere in web design—on navigation menus, buttons, and even instructional graphics. They help users navigate, take action, and understand content at a glance. But just because an icon looks great doesn’t mean it’s effective for everyone. When it comes to creating inclusive websites, icon accessibility is crucial. If an icon is confusing or too small, it can frustrate users, create barriers, and even cost you traffic or conversions. That’s why accessibility and usability should be top priorities.
In this article, we’ll explore six actionable ways to improve icon design so that your icons are clear, usable, and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Whether you’re a website owner, content creator, or web developer, these tips will help ensure your icons work well for everyone, including people with visual, motor, or cognitive impairments.
1. Make Your Icons Easy to See
Contrast Matters
When designing icons, it’s significant that they stand out from the background rather than blend in. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for text and images of text. Icons, especially those carrying critical information, should meet or exceed this contrast standard.
Why It’s Important
Low-contrast icons can be almost invisible to users with vision impairments, complicating navigating or completing tasks on your site.
How To Do It
Tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker can help you confirm that your color choices meet accessibility guidelines. If your background is light, ensure your icons are noticeably darker, and vice versa.
Size Counts
Just as crucial as contrast is icon size. Small icons can be a nightmare for users with poor vision or those who rely on assistive technology like screen magnifiers. They can also pose a challenge for people with motor disabilities who struggle to tap or click small icons accurately.
Recommended size
Aim for an icon touch target of at least 44×44 pixels. This size gives enough space for a user’s finger or cursor to select the icon without accidentally triggering something else.
Common pitfalls
Anything smaller than 24×24 pixels is typically too small to be easily clicked or tapped. If you’re designing for mobile, remember that users’ fingers are bigger than a precise mouse pointer.
2. Always Pair Icons with Text
Relying solely on icons can create confusion, especially if your visitors aren’t familiar with certain symbols. A perfect example is the infamous “hamburger menu.” While common in modern design, not everyone recognizes what the three stacked lines represent. By adding a text label, you remove any guesswork.
Why It’s Important
Text labels make icons understandable for users who might not recognize specific symbols. They also provide additional context for screen readers, who may not interpret icons alone correctly.
- Bad example: A search button that shows only a magnifying glass icon.
- Good example: Pair the magnifying glass icon with the word “Search.” This ensures clarity for everyone.
Including text labels is a simple but effective step toward better icon accessibility and can drastically improve user experience.
3. Use Clear, Functional Alt Text
Alt text (alternative text) plays a vital role in accessibility. It’s a description that screen readers read aloud for users who can’t see the images on a page. Regarding icons, the alt text should describe the icon’s function rather than its appearance.
- Examples: Bad: alt= “Icon of a house”
- Good: alt= “Go to homepage”
If the icon is purely decorative and conveys no essential information, mark it as aria-hidden= "true" or use an empty alt="" to keep screen readers from reading irrelevant content.
Use Proper Coding Techniques
Depending on the format of your icon, there are slightly different approaches to ensure screen readers interpret them correctly:
<img>elements → Use the alt attribute, like alt=”Search button”.- SVG icons → Provide a
<title>tag within the SVG file or inline code. - Icon fonts → Sometimes, screen readers treat icon fonts as text characters. Use
aria-hidden= "true"for the icon itself, and include hidden text (e.g.,<span class= "visually-hidden">Search</span>) for accessibility.
This attention to detail ensures that people using screen readers will know the icon’s function without having to interpret a cryptic or generic description.
4. Be Consistent with Icons
Consistency is key in web design, especially regarding icon accessibility. Each icon should have a clear meaning across your entire website or app.
Why It’s Important
If you use a magnifying glass icon to indicate “Search” in one area of your site, using the same symbol for “Zoom” somewhere else can confuse users. A confused user is more likely to leave your site or miss important content.
Avoid Multiple Meanings
Don’t use one icon to represent more than one function. This can break user trust and make them second-guess every click.
By keeping your icons consistent, you help users develop familiarity with the symbols on your site. Reducing the cognitive load for everyone, including users with disabilities who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.
5. Make Icons Keyboard & Assistive Tech Friendly
Some users cannot use a mouse or touchpad and rely solely on their keyboard. Others use assistive technology like screen readers or voice control. Ensuring your icons work with these tools is essential for accessibility.
Keyboard Navigation
Every interactive icon should be reachable and operable using only a keyboard. Users should be able to tab to an icon and activate it with the Enter or Spacebar keys.
- Tips: Use logical tab ordering in your HTML to ensure icons follow a coherent navigation sequence.
- Ensure focus styles are visible (e.g., a visible outline or highlight around the icon when selected).
Screen Reader Support
Icons can easily confuse screen reader users if not labeled correctly. This is where ARIA labels or hidden text come into play. For instance, if an icon triggers a search action, you could include an ARIA label such as aria-label= "Search" on the button element, or you can nest a visually hidden <span> that says “Search.”
Why It Matters
Without ARIA labels or hidden text, a screen reader might read the icon as a “button” or, worse, give no information.
How To Do It
<button aria-label="Search">
<svg aria-hidden="true"> ... </svg>
<span class="visually-hidden">Search</span>
</button>Ensure keyboard and screen reader users have the proper context to interact with your icon.
6. Choose the Right Icon Format
Icons can be added to a webpage in several ways, but SVG and PNG are two of the most popular image formats. Alternatively, some designers opt for icon fonts. Each has its pros and cons when considering icon accessibility.
SVG & PNG Are Your Friends
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- Pros: These files are resolution-independent, meaning they scale well to any size without losing quality. They can also be easily styled with CSS and annotated with titles or labels for accessibility.
- Cons: If you’re unfamiliar with SVG syntax, the setup process can be more involved.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
- Pros: Excellent for icons that don’t need to scale up drastically. PNGs offer high-quality images with transparency.
- Cons: They’re not always the best for large or small displays, as they can become pixelated or blurry when scaled.
Beware of Icon Fonts
Icon fonts replace letters with symbols, so the text “A” might visually display as a house icon. While this can be convenient, it can create issues for screen readers who might read the text as a letter rather than a graphic. If you use icon fonts:
- ARIA: Add
aria-hidden= "true"to ensure the screen reader ignores the font. - Hidden text: Include a visually hidden
<span>with the function of the icon, such as “Home” or “Search.”
By choosing the right format, you help ensure users can see or interact with the icon regardless of their device or abilities.
Team Up with 216digital for Better Accessibility
Mastering icon accessibility is more than just following guidelines; it’s about providing an inclusive experience for everyone who visits your website. Clear, intuitive icons can significantly improve your site’s usability, particularly for users who rely on assistive technologies.
If you’re unsure where to begin or want to ensure accessibility experts handle every detail, consider partnering with 216digital. Our team has extensive experience creating accessible, user-friendly websites that work seamlessly across different devices and for people of all abilities. We’ll help you fine-tune every aspect of your icons, from contrast ratios and alt text to keyboard navigation and consistent design.
Ready to level up your website’s accessibility? Contact us for a quick briefing and see how we can help strengthen your site’s icon design. Together, we can create a web experience that welcomes everyone, reflecting your brand values and maximizing your reach in a diverse online world.