Use the built-in list feature when creating an ordered (numbered) or unordered (bullet) list. Ordered lists should be used when list items need to be understood in a specific order. Unordered lists should be used when the order of the items does not matter.
Impact
Lists help users understand points more quickly and break up the content, which helps reduce reader fatigue. When using built-in list features, screen readers alert the user of the list, which may inform them of the number of items in the list and allows them to navigate through the list items with a single keystroke.
What to do
- Identify content that may be best presented in a list such as key concepts, related items, or sequences.
- Use the built-in list functionality to designate the list items using ordered or unordered lists.
- Differentiate between ordered and unordered lists. Use ordered lists when presenting material in a sequential order.
Things to avoid
- Do not create lists by using tabs and spaces to create indents. Screen readers may announce these to users as “Blank, blank, blank” and cannot easily distinguish between list items.
- Avoid typing dashes or numbers to indicate a list. If the built-in tool is not used, the screen reader will not announce the items as list items.
- Avoid copying/pasting text with bullets or numbering as the items will not be picked up as “lists.”
Resources
- WAVE accessibility checker – Input your URL and review the Structure tab to see if a list is actually marked up as a list.