Testing SVGs with Assistive Technologies: A Practical Guide for Frontend Developers and Designers

SVGs are a powerful tool for responsive, accessible, and scalable visuals. But without careful testing with assistive technologies (AT), even well-designed SVGs can become barriers for users who rely on screen readers, magnifiers, or other assistive tools. This guide focuses on practical, developer-friendly steps to test SVGs for accessibility and how to fix common issues. For deeper insights and tooling, you can explore SVG accessibility tips on SVGenious.

Why assistive technology testing matters for SVGs

SVGs are not just decorative; they convey information, actions, and relationships. When an SVG is read by a screen reader, its structure, title, descriptions, and interactive roles determine what a user perceives. Without proper labeling, an icon-based button may be announced without purpose, or a data visualization may lose its meaning. Testing with AT helps ensure your graphics are inclusive and compliant with accessibility standards.

Key AT considerations when testing SVGs

• Perceivable: Ensure content is available to AT via text labels or descriptions.
• Operable: Interactive SVGs must be navigable and actionable via keyboard or AT controls.
• Understandable: The meaning of the SVG should be clear from its labels and structure.
• Robust: The SVG should work with assistive tech that relies on the DOM and aria attributes.

Start with a plan: pick a handful of ATs to test (e.g., TalkBack, VoiceOver, NVDA) and combine automated checks with manual testing. For a practical workflow, see tips from SVGenious accessibility resources.

Inline SVGs: labeling with <title> and <desc>

Inline SVGs are most likely to be read by AT when they include accessible labels. Use a <title> as a short label, and optionally a <desc> for longer descriptions. Provide a stable id to associate via aria-labelledby.

<svg width="120" height="60" role="img" aria-labelledby="svgTitle svgDesc" >
  <title id="svgTitle">Pie Chart: Revenue by Quarter</title>
  <desc id="svgDesc">A pie chart showing the distribution of revenue across Q1 to Q4.</desc>
  <circle cx="60" cy="30" r="28" fill="steelblue"/>
  </svg>
    

Tips:

• Always include a meaningful <title> that briefly describes the graphic’s purpose.
• Use aria-labelledby to connect the title and description to the SVG.
• Keep descriptions concise; long blocks can overwhelm AT users in some environments.

Accessible icons and decorative SVGs

Not every SVG needs a detailed description. Use aria-hidden="true" for purely decorative imagery to prevent AT from announcing non-essential content. If an icon doubles as a control (button, toggle), do not hide it from AT—provide an accessible label instead.

<button aria-label="Settings">
  <svg width="24" height="24" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" ></svg>
</button>
    

Best practice:

• Use aria-hidden="true" only for decorative visuals.
• If the SVG is interactive, ensure the button or control has an accessible name (aria-label, aria-labelledby).

Interactive SVGs: roles and keyboard support

When an SVG contains interactive elements, declare roles clearly and ensure keyboard operability. For example, a sortable chart segment or an accessible SVG menu should expose button-like semantics with proper ARIA roles.

<svg width="200" height="100" role="img" aria-labelledby="chartTitle" tabindex="0" >
  <title id="chartTitle">Interactive Bar Chart</title>
  <rect x="10" y="20" width="40" height="60" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="January: 120 units" />
  </svg>
    

Remember:

• Use proper focus order and visible focus indicators for keyboard users.
• Prefer semantic elements or ARIA roles that reflect the control’s purpose.
• Test with AT where possible to hear how labels are announced and how navigation works.

Data visualizations: labeling axes and legends

Complex graphics like charts require careful labeling to avoid ambiguity. Provide the chart title, axis descriptions, and a readable legend. Link to a longer description if the visualization conveys critical data.

<svg width="480" height="320" role="img" aria-labelledby="chartTitle chartLegend" >
  <title id="chartTitle">Monthly Revenue 2024</title>
  <desc id="chartLegend">Legend: blue bars = Online, orange bars = Retail.</desc>
  <g class="bars">...</g>
</svg>
    

Tip: provide accessible summaries outside the SVG (e.g., visually hidden “Accessible summary: This chart shows monthly revenue broken down by channel.”), and consider a table version for data-dense visuals.

Testing workflow: from development to accessibility audits

A practical testing workflow blends manual AT checks with automated checks and design reviews. Here’s a compact checklist you can apply in the build step and during QA:

• Validate that all meaningful SVGs include a title and, if needed, a description. Use aria-labelledby where applicable.
• Ensure decorative SVGs are hidden from AT with aria-hidden="true" and remove unnecessary semantics.
• Check keyboard accessibility for interactive SVG controls (focus styles visible, meaningful names).
• Verify color contrast between foreground SVG strokes/fills and the background when the SVG conveys information (avoid relying solely on color).
• Run AT checks with a screen reader in combination with a keyboard-only workflow. If possible, test with at least one mobile device to assess magnification and rotor controls.

Practical patterns you can reuse

Adopt these patterns to speed up accessibility without sacrificing visuals:

• Inline SVGs with a labeled group: wrap related shapes in a <g aria-labelledby="groupTitle"> and provide a <title> for the group.
• Use role="img" for SVGs that convey an image purpose but do not require interactive semantics.
• For icons that also function as buttons, pair aria-label or aria-labelledby with clear focus styling.
• Offer an accessible text alternative near the SVG for screen reader users who prefer linear navigation of content.
• Document your patterns in a shared design system page and link to SVGenious guidance for consistency: SVG accessibility patterns on SVGenious.

Tools and resources for ongoing testing

While manual testing remains essential, a few tools can help automate checks and catch common pitfalls. Consider using:

• Accessibility audit features in browser dev tools to inspect ARIA attributes on SVGs
• Automated linters and validators for ARIA usage
• Screen reader testing on macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android devices to cover popular ATs
• Design system documentation that defines when to apply titles, descriptions, and roles to SVGs

Conclusion: make SVGs inclusive by design

SVGs offer flexibility and clarity when accessible by default. By labeling inline graphics, handling decorative content properly, and ensuring interactive SVGs support keyboard and AT navigation, you can deliver visuals that are both beautiful and usable. Integrate accessibility checks into your normal workflow, collaborate with designers and developers, and lean on trusted resources such as SVGenious for best practices and patterns.

If you’d like to see more real-world examples and case studies, visit SVGenious' SVG accessibility library and start applying these patterns to your next project.