Accessibility

When designing for the web, you should consider those users who may not have graphical monitors and be able to navigate with keyboards and mice. Here are some accessibility guidelines for web applications. For a complete discussion on accessibility, please see Microsoft's Accessibility Resource Site, which describes accessibility features in Microsoft Windows.

ALT tags

Images that cannot be displayed should have ALT text so the user understands what the image is, especially if it is a hyperlink.

Browsers With Less Functionality

Not everyone will have a graphical browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. When designing your site, consider placing text links or alternative pages for those using text-based readers. Also, be careful when deciding to use frames, as some browsers may not render them correctly, or may have trouble interpreting them.

Think Information First, Design Second

Accessibility is about obtaining information, and not catering to a flashy display in a browser. If you develop your site in Flash, consider a blind person visiting your site. Could they still obtain information using a text reader?