Itqualityassurance
- Are disabled buttons bad for accessibility?
- Can screen readers read disabled buttons?
- Can buttons be disabled?
- Is it OK to grey out disabled buttons?
Are disabled buttons bad for accessibility?
Bad accessibility
Sometimes disabled buttons are designed in a way that they cannot be read by a screen reader (buttons are not focusable, and hence users can't reach them with a keyboard). No need to explain that users with disabilities will face problems with such behavior.
Can screen readers read disabled buttons?
Screen readers ignore disabled controls, so screen reader users won't hear the message. Add some nearby visible help text for the button. This would work for sighted users, but not necessarily for low vision users or blind users using a screen reader.
Can buttons be disabled?
A disabled button is unusable and un-clickable. The disabled attribute can be set to keep a user from clicking on the button until some other condition has been met (like selecting a checkbox, etc.). Then, a JavaScript could remove the disabled value, and make the button clickable again.
Is it OK to grey out disabled buttons?
For a smooth and seamless experience, it's best to avoid graying out your disabled buttons. Instead, you should decrease the opacity to make it transparent. When the disabled button is transparent, users can see some semblance of the button in its enabled state.
