Screen Reader Simulator

What is a Screen Reader?

A screen reader is assistive technology that converts on-screen content into speech or braille output. Users who are blind or have low vision rely on screen readers to navigate websites. Popular screen readers include NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

What This Tool Analyzes

• Reading order: The sequential order in which a screen reader would announce each element, including its role, name, and state
• Heading structure: Whether headings (h1-h6) follow a logical hierarchy without skipping levels
• Landmarks: Semantic regions (nav, main, header, footer, aside) that help users navigate page structure
• Accessibility issues: Missing alt text, empty links, missing form labels, improper ARIA usage, and more

Key Accessibility Concepts

• Alt text: Images must have descriptive alt attributes, or alt="" if purely decorative
• ARIA roles: Use native semantic HTML first; ARIA should only supplement, not replace, native semantics
• Form labels: Every input must have an associated label for screen reader users
• Link text: Links should have descriptive text; avoid "click here" or empty links
• Heading hierarchy: Start with h1, don't skip levels (e.g., h2 to h4)

Limitations

This simulator approximates screen reader behavior. Real screen readers interact with the browser's accessibility tree, handle dynamic ARIA live regions, and support keyboard navigation. Always test with an actual screen reader (NVDA, VoiceOver, or JAWS) for production sites.

You can embed this util on your own site as a widget. Adding ?embed=1 to the URL loads a compact version with just the tool itself; no header, menu, or documentation. Paste this snippet into your HTML:

Copy snippet Adjust the height to taste.