- Icons are symbols that can convey a ton of information and really help people comprehend directions, signs, and interfaces. Its important that we create and use them so that they can reach the largest amount of people possible. -
- -- When creating web sites and apps, that means making sure our icons play well with assistive tech when users are navigating apps and sites. -
- - - - - -+ Icons are symbols that can convey a ton of information and really help people comprehend directions, signs, and interfaces. Its important that we create and use them so that they can reach the largest amount of people possible. +
+- Modern versions of assistive technology, like screen readers, will read CSS generated content (how Font Awesome icons are rendered), as well as specific Unicode characters. When trying our default markup for rendering icons, assisistive technology may have the following problems. + Modern versions of assistive technology, like screen readers, will read CSS generated content (how Font Awesome icons are rendered), as well as specific Unicode characters. When reading our default markup for rendering icons, assisistive technology may have the following problems.
- When using icons in your UI, there are ways to help assistive technology either ignore or better understand Font Awesome. -
+
- If you're using an icon to add some extra decoration or branding, it does not need to be announced to users as they are navigating your site or app aurally. Additionally, if you're using an icon to visually re-emphasize or add styling to content already present in your HTML, it does not need to be repeated to an assistive technology-using user. You can make sure this is not read by adding the aria-hidden="true" to your Font Awesome markup.
-
Font Awesome CDN helps you automate accessibility support more easily so your icons work for the most people possible. You only need turn on a setting, use our simple syntax, and any icons you use will have all of the best practices and manual techniques below applied automatically.
+When using icons in your UI, there are manual techniques and ways to help assistive technology either ignore or better understand Font Awesome.
+ +If you're using an icon to add some extra decoration or branding, it does not need to be announced to users as they are navigating your site or app aurally. Additionally, if you're using an icon to visually re-emphasize or add styling to content already present in your HTML, it does not need to be repeated to an assistive technology-using user. You can make sure this is not read by adding the aria-hidden="true" to your Font Awesome markup.
<i class="fa fa-fighter-jet" aria-hidden="true"></i>
@@ -290,12 +280,12 @@
an icon being used in front of link text
If you're using an icon to convey meaning (rather than only as a decorative element), ensure that this meaning is also conveyed to assistive technologies. This goes for content you're abbreviating via icons as well as interactive controls (buttons, form elements, toggles, etc.). There are a few techniques to accomplish this:
-
The simplest way to provide a text alternative is to use the aria-hidden="true" attribute on the icon and to include the text with an additional element, such as a <span>, with appropriate CSS to visually hide the element while keeping it accessible to assistive technologies. In addition, you can add a title attribute on the icon to provide a tooltip for sighted mouse users.
In the case of focusable interactive elements, there are various options to include an alternative text or label to the element, without the need for any visually hidden <span> or similar. For instance, simply adding the title attribute to the interactive element itself will be sufficient to provide an accessible alternative name for the element, as well as providing the mouse tooltip.
- While the scenarios and techniques above help avoid some serious issues and confusion, they are not exhaustive. There are many complex contexts and use cases when it comes to accessibility, such as users with low vision who need a high color contrast ratio to see UI. There are some great tools and resources to learn from and work on these issues out there. Here are a few reads we recommend. + While the scenarios and techniques here help avoid some serious issues and confusion, they are not exhaustive. There are many complex contexts and use cases when it comes to accessibility, such as users with low vision who need a high color contrast ratio to see UI. There are some great tools and resources to learn from and work on these issues out there. Here are a few reads we recommend.
We'll continue to work on these under the larger topic of accessibility, but in the meantime, let us know if any bugs or issues.
-After you get up and running, you can place Font Awesome icons just about anywhere with the <i> tag:
<i class="fa fa-font-awesome" aria-hidden="true"></i>
++ Note: to improve web accessibility, we recommend using aria-hidden="true" to hide icons used purely for decoration. +
+ +After you get up and running, you can place Font Awesome icons just about anywhere with the <i> tag:
<i class="fa fa-google-plus-official" aria-hidden="true"></i>
++ Note: to improve web accessibility, we recommend using aria-hidden="true" to hide icons used purely for decoration. +
+ +- You asked, Font Awesome delivers with 27 shiny new icons in version 4.6. + You asked, Font Awesome delivers with 30 shiny new icons in version 4.6. Want to request new icons? Here's how. - + Need vectors or want to use on the desktop? Check the cheatsheet.
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@