Extending web site and application functionality through custom widgets and controls can significantly improve the user experience for everyone, making complex tasks possible via a web interface without requiring specialist software.
Autocomplete widgets can be helpful for accessibility because they can make it easier to enter text by providing suggestions based on the characters initially typed.
Whether you provide controls using standard HTML elements or create custom controls, ensure that controls are given appropriate names.
Interactive elements should not be difficult to select or activate when using a mouse or a touchscreen.
Generous sizing and spacing is important, and their implied visual “hit area” should correspond to the control’s active area.
Links ( elements) are focusable by default, so it should normally be possible to activate them using the keyboard. However, under certain circumstances, they are not focusable.
All operations must use simple gestures that need only a single touch. If the site or application does use multi-touch gestures, be sure to also provide simple interfaces.
Making it possible for people to access and operate a web interface or application using the keyboard benefits people who can’t use a mouse due to a visual impairment or mobility impairment.
Expandables (sometimes called “collapsible” or “disclosure widgets”) are simple interface patterns that allow you to expand and collapse content.
Icon fonts are a popular and effective method for providing scalable symbols that can be used to label controls and provide graphical information. The information provided by icons also needs to be available to people who can’t see them.
A clear indication that specific form fields are required can save users time and avoid potential errors relating to missing data when a form is submitted.
Ensure that functions that are triggered by moving a device or by gesturing towards the device can also be operated by more conventional user interface components.