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Additional techniques to enhance accessibility of essential scripts

Web checkpoint 5


Technique summary for additional techniques to enhance accessibility of essential scripts

Even when scripts are directly accessible, they might create a barrier when scripting capabilities are disabled in the browser or when the browser or assistive technology configuration does not support scripts. Therefore, the following techniques are recommended to enhance accessibility:

  • The <noscript> element can be used to provide alternative content or to contain a link to an alternative Web page with equivalent content and functionality. See the example below:


    • ...
    <body>
    <noscript>
    <p> <a href="no_script_pages.html">Equivalent alternative
    pages</a></p>
    </noscript>
    <script language="JavaScript1.1" type="text/javascript">
    <!-- ...

  • Use a server-side script instead of or in addition to a client-side script to provide equivalent functionality. Server-side scripts do not require additional accessibility techniques.
  • Provide an equivalent alternative that doesn't require scripting. The link to the alternative could be a link in the page content or inside the <noscript> element.

    In the example text below, the accessible JavaScript allows the user to select a Web page. An additional alternative link is added which points to another HTML file (selectPage.html) that contains a text link to each Web page. This is an enhanced way to provide accessibility for browsers that don't support scripting:



    <noscript>
    <a href="selectPage.html">Select a page</a>
    </noscript>
    <script language="javascript">
    <!--
    function goLink() {
    linkPage = document.quickMenu.link.options[document.quickMenu.
    link.selectedIndex].value;
    if (linkPage == "") {
    return;
    }
    else {
    self.location = linkPage;
    }
    }
    ...
    // -->
    </script>
    <form name="quickMenu">
    <label>Select a page to link to:
    <select name="link">
    <option value="">Select A Page</option>
    <option value=""></option>
    <option value="webscripts_eventhandlers.html#dropdown_
    example4">Stay on this page</option>
    <option value="webscripts.html">Scripts main page</option>
    </select>
    <input type="button" name="Go" value="Go" onclick="goLink()">
    </label>
    </form>
Technique summary for additional techniques to enhance accessibility of essential scripts
Recommended:
  • Provide an equivalent alternative with the <noscript> element
  • Use a server-side script instead of or in addition to a client-side script to provide equivalent functionality.
  • Provide an equivalent alternative that doesn't require scripting.

Related script techniques



©2001, 2008 IBM Corporation

Last updated February 28, 2008.

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