Accessibility Testing for Web & Mobile

Q: What is accessibility testing?

Accessibility testing ensures that web and mobile applications comply with standards like WCAG, ADA, Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), and Android Accessibility Guidelines to make apps usable by people with disabilities.

Q: What libraries does QA Wolf use for automated accessibility testing?

QA Wolf uses Microsoft Playwright and Deque axe-core for automated accessibility testing.

About automated a11y testing

Accessibility testing ensures that Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are followed. Not doing so may impact screen readers and other accessibility aids. WCAG is the basis for all digital accessibility regulations in the US, Canada, and Europe, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508, Canada’s ACA, and EN 301 549 in the EU. On top of WCAG, Apple's Human Interaction Guidelines (HIG), and Android Accessibility Guidelines.

Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all. Browser-based apps are tested against WCAG standards, while iOS and Android apps follow platform-specific guidelines. QA Wolf validates compatibility with screen readers like VoiceOver and TalkBack, and ensures key accessibility features like labeling, touch targets, and text scaling work properly.

How it's done

3 accessibility levels: minimum, recommended, highest

Build your a11y test suite

In the QA Wolf editor, you can write tests using Google Lighthouse and the Axe library to assert that pages and elements comply with WCAG success criteria, HIG, and Android Accessibility policies.

Not sure what you need? Our Mapping AI can help design a test plan.

QA Wolf UI showing that you can schedule running suite

Test on-schedule or on-demand

Run your suite in parallel on browsers, Android emulators, and real iOS devices inside QA Wolf’s private cloud.

Release when clear

If changes to your product violate the WCAG assertions that you’ve defined, your developers get notified on the PR and a ticket is made in your issue tracker.

Accessibility means P.O.U.R.

WCAG's four principles of accessibility—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—are the foundation of all accessibility regulations. With QA Wolf you can build and maintain test cases for all of them.

Perceivable

Alternatives for non-text content

Assert that “programmatically determinable” alt text that screen readers and other adaptive tech can use is provided for pictures, charts, and other visuals; and transcriptions are provided for audio and video content.

Colorful wolf with html code that visualizes that alt text

Adaptable content

Test that assistive technologies can determine how to render the content of your application.

WCAG ratios of white text over a black background. Normal and large text both pass AA & AAA

Distinguishable content

Validate color contrast, dynamic type, responsive layouts, hover and focus states, audio balance, etc. so users can separate what’s in the background and foreground.

Operable

Keyboard accessibility

Test that your whole app can be used through the keyboard alone, and assistive technologies that navigate by simulating keystrokes.

Stopwatch with playwright code for timeouts

Timing

Assert that users have enough time to interact with your app, and the ability to delay actions if they need more time.

Photo sensitivity

Catch animations and other types of flashing content that can cause seizures or other physical effects.

form input with css code for an accessible outline

Navigation aids

Test that critical navigation aids like page titles, sequential focus order, and focus visibility are present after each release.

Input devices

Make sure your app can be used with finger inputs, styluses, pointers, and a mouse—concurrently—and that gestures, target areas, and motion meet WCAG, HIG, and Android standards for usability.

Understandable

Readable language

Check that your app has a defined “human language” that is used by screen readers and other assistive tech.

Input assistance

Test for WCAG-compliant instructions and error messages and the proper ‘aria’ labels.

button html that includes the aria-label

Predictable interactions

Catch components that trigger changes automatically without a user’s confirmation.

Robust

Compatibility with assistive tech

Catch poorly formed markup and other problems that would challenge today’s and the future’s assistive technology.

FAQs

What is accessibility testing?

Accessibility testing verifies that websites and applications work for people with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and speech disabilities.

Effective QA coverage includes keyboard-only navigation, screen reader support, color contrast, photosensitivity risks, captions, focus states, and cognitive load—not just basic visual checks.

Can QA Wolf test compliance with WCAG standards?

Yes. WCAG has multiple versions of its standards (currently 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 are the latest), and multiple levels of compliance with each (A, AA, and AAA). With QA Wolf, you can build and run a test suite that suits your compliance goals.

Can QA Wolf limit testing to specific accessibility requirements?

Absolutely. Select the rules you need to adhere to, and build tests specifically for those cases. Each time you run your test suite, you’ll be able to see continued compliance with the rules you’ve chosen to test.

What libraries does QA Wolf use for automated accessibility testing?

QA Wolf uses Microsoft Playwright and the Deque axe-core library. Both open-source tools support our commitment to flexibility and prevent vendor lock-in. We regularly update our software library to the latest stable version and keep everything current.

How does QA Wolf report accessibility testing results?

Results of each test run are available in the QA Wolf platform. The platform can also be connected to your CI tools to see results on individual PRs, to your issue tracker, and trigger automated messages to Slack and Teams.

How long does it take to get accessibility tests up and running?

A single test only takes a few minutes. If you’re looking for automated accessibility testing, schedule some time with us to learn more.

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About automated a11y testing