Introduction: What is this?

It’s probably safe to assume that every student here uses the Internet. Be it email, course work or research, the Web has become a tool we all use for work, play, and communication. There are a number of different ways to use the Web, including browsers for desktop, tablets, and mobile phones. For low vision or blind users, screen readers announce what’s on the screen audibly and require keyboard use to interact with the information. It’s all of these different ways to use the same information that Boston University has put together a “best practices” list to help you create web content that’s both usable and accessible for everyone.

What is the Web made of?

The visual stuff you see when browsing a web page is made of HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Stylesheets (CSS), and sometimes JavaScript (JS). Understanding how these three technologies work is the key to building websites that work for everyone and for all devices.

We’ve created a handy guide to said best practices for the most commonly used elements for easy reference.

Best Practices

It's important to understand what each of the following three parts of the web do and how they work together. HTML is essentially the content you see. CSS then provides the layout, styles, colors, and sizes. Finally, JavaScript - which isn't required by any means - is used to add additional functionality. It's important to note that only HTML is required and by adding CSS and JavaScript, you add complexity and potentially reduce accessibility and usability. You should follow best practices and web standards at all times. Less is more.

HTML






CSS



JavaScript