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Testing

Screen Reader Basics

Software that reads content aloud and enables keyboard navigation. NVDA (Windows, free), JAWS (Windows, commercial), VoiceOver (macOS/iOS, built-in), TalkBack (Android). Each has different behaviors and quirks.

In plain terms

Software that reads the screen aloud and lets blind and low-vision people navigate by keyboard. For many, it's the main way they use the web.

Why this matters

Screen readers are how many blind and low-vision people use the web. If you've never tested with one, you're guessing at their experience — and guessing is how most accessibility failures ship.