Accessibility and Compatibility in Frontend Systems

Imagine visiting a website where the text is too small to read, the colors don’t contrast well, or the site doesn’t work on your device. For millions of users, especially those with disabilities or using different browsers and devices, these issues make the web harder to access and less inclusive. Making frontend systems accessible and compatible isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also a smart business move that broadens your product’s reach.

In this lesson, we’ll look at accessibility and compatibility as key nonfunctional requirements (NFRs) in frontend System Design. We’ll cover why they matter, how to design an inclusive and compatible frontend, and real-world examples that show their impact.

Accessibility

Accessibility ensures that users of all abilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments, can use a website effectively. It is essential for inclusivity, legal compliance, user satisfaction, and business success. Websites that lack accessibility features can alienate a significant portion of the population, reducing reach and engagement.

Ignoring accessibility can lead to usability issues, legal consequences, and a frustrating experience for disabled users. Designing with accessibility in mind improves user experience and broadens the application’s audience.

KPIs for accessibility

Ensuring accessibility in a frontend system requires measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess how well an application supports users with disabilities. These KPIs help track compliance, usability, and inclusivity:

• WCAG compliance level: This is the guidelines compliance level the application should meet. It should be at least ...