Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.

SCORE

GRADE

FIX

REVIEW

PASS

INFO

Checks

6 PASS 3 REVIEW 4 FIX

404 Error Page

Action

HTTP 500, custom page

FIX

HTTP 500, custom page

Unexpected status code: HTTP 500

Expected HTTP 404 but received 500. This may confuse search engine crawlers.

Got: HTTP 500

Custom styled 404 page

404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page

Status Code HTTP 500 ✗Page Title 500 Internal Server Error ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✗Homepage Link ✗Search Form ✗

Dark Mode Support

Action

Theme color only

FIX

Theme color only

Theme-color present but no dark variant

A theme-color is set but no dark-specific variant was found. The browser toolbar may not adapt for dark mode users.

Got: 003bde

No dark mode signals detected

Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles

External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.

Dark ModePartial Dark Mode

color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

Print Stylesheet

Action

No print styles

FIX

No print styles

No print-specific styles detected

When users print this page, they get the screen layout including navigation and non-essential elements. Add @media print rules to hide navigation and optimize layout for paper.

Print Stylesheet No Print Styles

Print stylesheet Not found ✗Inline @media print Not detected ✗

Link & Button Quality

Action

2 issue(s) across 96 links and 23 buttons

REVIEW

2 issue(s) across 96 links and 23 buttons

24 link(s) open in new tab without warning

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

Got: https://publishingpartnerships.frontiersin.org/; https://forum.frontiersin.org/; https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/; https://careers.frontiersin.org/; https://publishingpartnerships.frontiersin.org/; https://forum.frontiersin.org/; https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/; https://careers.frontiersin.org/; /submission/submit; https://www.frontiersin.org/about/annual-reports (+14 more)

2 button(s) with no accessible text

Icon-only buttons need an aria-label so screen readers can announce them.

Got: button.BypassBlock__firstEl (#52 on page); button.DropDown__search__icon (#292 on page)

72 link(s) with descriptive text

96 links

0 empty

0 generic text

24 new tab

2 empty buttons

Element	Text	Issue	Suggested Fix
https://publishingpartnerships.frontiers…	Societies	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://forum.frontiersin.org/	Frontiers Forum	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/	Press office	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://careers.frontiersin.org/	Career opportunities	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://publishingpartnerships.frontiers…	Societies	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://forum.frontiersin.org/	Frontiers Forum	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/	Press office	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://careers.frontiersin.org/	Career opportunities	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
/submission/submit	Submit your research …	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.frontiersin.org/about/annual…	FRONTIERS NEWS Publ…	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.frontiersin.org/ai-playbook/…	FRONTIERS NEWS Publ…	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://forum.frontiersin.org/	Frontiers Forum	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://policylabs.frontiersin.org/	Frontiers Policy Labs	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://kids.frontiersin.org/	Frontiers for Young Minds	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://helpcenter.frontiersin.org	Help center	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://subscription-management.frontier…	Emails and alerts	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://careers.frontiersin.org/	Career opportunities	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.facebook.com/Frontiersin	Frontiers Facebook	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://twitter.com/frontiersin	Frontiers Twitter	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontie…	Frontiers LinkedIn	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.instagram.com/frontiersin_	Frontiers Instagram	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/privac…	Privacy policy	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-…	Terms and conditions	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
https://www.frontiersin.org/about/access…	Accessibility statement	new tab	Add '(opens in new tab)' to text
<button>	(empty)	empty	Add button text or aria-label
<button>	(empty)	empty	Add button text or aria-label

93 links and buttons have descriptive text

Add '(opens in new tab)' to link text or aria-label.

https://publishingpartnerships.frontiersin.org/; https://forum.frontiersin.org/; https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/; https://careers.frontiersin.org/; https://publishingpartnerships.frontiersin.org/; https://forum.frontiersin.org/; https://pressoffice.frontiersin.org/; https://careers.frontiersin.org/; /submission/submit; https://www.frontiersin.org/about/annual-reports (+14 more)

Why this matters

Links with target="_blank" without rel="noopener" leak the originating page's window context — security and UX issue.

Learn more ▾

Without rel="noopener", the new tab can navigate the original tab via window.opener (tab-nabbing attack). Modern browsers default to noopener for target=_blank but only since recent versions. Always set rel="noopener noreferrer" explicitly.

Source: MDN target / OWASP

Icon-only buttons need an aria-label so screen readers can announce them.

button.BypassBlock__firstEl (#52 on page); button.DropDown__search__icon (#292 on page)

Why this matters

Buttons with no accessible text (icon-only, no aria-label) can't be activated by voice control or understood by screen readers.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 4.1.2

Favicon & Branding

7 icon(s) detected

REVIEW

7 icon(s) detected

favicon.ico present at site root

HTML icon links detected

Apple touch icon present

Multiple icon sizes detected

✓ favicon.ico Present

✓ PNG Icons Present

✓ Apple Touch Present

✗ SVG Favicon Missing

✓ Manifest Icons Present

✓ Multiple Sizes Present

Color Contrast (Screenshot)

Action

20 text elements analyzed, 3 fail WCAG AA

REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

17 pass 3 fail WCAG AA

title Frontiers | Publisher of peer-reviewed a…

1.80:1

#000000

#293C38

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

span Skip to main content

1.92:1

#000000

#2F3F44

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

button About us

2.17:1

#000000

#32484C

needs 4.5:1 (normal text)

16px · top of page (header area)

Show all checked elements (20)

Element	Ratio	Required	FG	BG	Result
h1 Where scientists emp…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h2 Authors	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h2 Why open science is …	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h2 News	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h2 Get the latest resea…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Find a journal	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Find a topic	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Resources for author…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Submit your research	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Manage your data	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Frontiers' annual re…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Frontiers in Science…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 AI in research: your…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 ‘Sometimes an adul…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Legged robot could a…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Bacteria frozen in a…	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
h3 Science unlocked: a …	19.60:1	3.0:1	#000000	#F7F7F7	Pass
title Frontiers \| Publishe…	1.80:1	4.5:1	#000000	#293C38	Fail
span Skip to main content	1.92:1	4.5:1	#000000	#2F3F44	Fail
button About us	2.17:1	4.5:1	#000000	#32484C	Fail

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A+

Landmark Structure

4 landmarks

PASS

4 landmarks

<main> landmark present

1 <nav> landmark(s) found

Skip navigation link present

Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it

A+

Heading Hierarchy

17 headings

PASS

17 headings

Single H1 present

H1 Where scientists empower society
H2 Authors
H3 Find a journal
H3 Find a topic
H3 Resources for authors
H3 Submit your research
H3 Manage your data
H2 Why open science is essential for our future
H2 News
H3 Frontiers' annual report 2025
H3 Frontiers in Science: Halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 critical to avoid disastrous effects on human well-being
H3 AI in research: your step-by-step support for impactful and responsible AI use
H3 ‘Sometimes an adult should shut up and go away’: scientists reveal the qualities that kids need in play
H3 Legged robot could accelerate resource prospecting on the Moon and the search for life on Mars
H3 Bacteria frozen in ancient underground ice cave found to be resistant against 10 modern antibiotics
H3 Science unlocked: a new documentary spotlights how Frontiers is opening knowledge to accelerate global progress
H2 Get the latest research updates, subscribe to our newsletter

Alt Text Quality

All 13 images OK

PASS

All 13 images OK

4 image(s) with alt text over 125 characters

9 image(s) with good alt text

13 images 9 good alt text

Issue	Count
too long	4 image(s)

Form Accessibility

1 of 4 controls have issues

PASS

1 of 4 controls have issues

1 control(s) rely on placeholder only

Placeholder text disappears on focus and is not a reliable label.

Got: <input type="text">

3 control(s) properly labeled

4 controls

3 labeled

1 placeholder only

0 unlabeled

Control	Type	Label	Method
#subscriberFirstName	text	Name	for/id
#subscriberLastName	text	Last name	for/id
#subscriberEmail	text	E-mail	for/id
input	text	(Search...)	placeholder only

Placeholder text disappears on focus and is not a reliable label.

Why this matters

Placeholder-only labels disappear when the user starts typing — they must remember what the field was for.

Learn more ▾

Placeholders are NOT labels. They vanish on input, fail color contrast checks (most are gray), and don't satisfy WCAG SC 3.3.2. Always use a real <label> alongside (or aria-labelledby).

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 3.3.2 / Nielsen Norman

A+

Web Manifest

PWA-ready

PASS

PWA-ready

Meets PWA install criteria

Name present: Frontiers | Research Publisher

192x192 icon present

512x512 icon present

Display mode: standalone

PWA Install Criteria ✓ Installable

Name Frontiers | Research Publisher ✓192×192 icon ✓512×512 icon ✓Start URL /?standalone=true ✓Display Mode standalone ✓

Name Frontiers | Research Publisher Display Mode standalone Theme Color #0C4DED Background Color #0C4DED Icons 2 icon(s)

A+

Lighthouse Accessibility Audits

Score 100/100 — 1 failing, 29 passed

PASS

100

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

Visible text labels that do not match the accessible name can result in a confusing experience for screen reader users. Learn more about accessible names.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
Cookie Policy `div#onetrust-group-container > div#onetrust-policy > div#onetrust-policy-text > a.ot-cookie-policy-link`

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable

○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state

○The page has a logical tab order

○Visual order on the page follows DOM order

○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region

○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page

○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation

○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology

○Custom controls have associated labels

○Custom controls have ARIA roles

●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`

●`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes

●`[role]` values are valid

●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values

●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled

●Buttons have an accessible name

●Image elements have `[alt]` attributes

●Form elements have associated labels

●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.

●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role

●Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.

●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents

●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes

●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio

●Document has a `<title>` element

●`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title

●`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute

●`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute

●Links are distinguishable without relying on color.

●Links have a discernible name

●Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).

●List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements

●No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0

●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.

●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order

●Skip links are focusable.

●Document has a main landmark.

●Deprecated ARIA roles were not used

○`[accesskey]` values are unique

○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names

○ARIA input fields have accessible names

○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names

○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.

○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element

○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.

○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names

○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names

○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names

○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region

○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.

○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements

○ARIA IDs are unique

○No form fields have multiple labels

○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.

○Input buttons have discernible text.

○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text

○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`

○`<object>` elements have alternate text

○Select elements have associated label elements.

○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.

○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.

○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value

○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`

○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.

○All heading elements contain content.

○Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements

○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.

○Identical links have the same purpose.

○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.

○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.

All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.