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Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.
SCORE
55
GRADE
D
FIX
6
REVIEW
4
PASS
3
INFO
0
Checks
13
3 PASS 4 REVIEW 6 FIX
F
404 Error Page
Action
HTTP 404, bare page
FIX
HTTP 404, bare page
Info::
Correct 404 status code returned
Got: HTTP 404
Warning::
Bare server default 404 page
The 404 page has no custom styling. Users hitting a broken link see a generic error with no way to navigate back. Add a custom 404 page with your site navigation and a search bar.
404 Page Quality Default 404 Page
Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Custom Styling ✗Navigation ✗Homepage Link ✗Search Form ✗
F
Favicon & Branding
Action
2 icon(s) detected
FIX
2 icon(s) detected
Info::
favicon.ico present at site root
Info::
HTML icon links detected
Info::
No apple-touch-icon detected
iOS devices use this when users add your site to their home screen. Add <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon.png'>.
✓ favicon.ico Present
✓ PNG Icons Present
✗ Apple Touch Missing
✗ SVG Favicon Missing
✗ Manifest Icons Missing
✗ Multiple Sizes Missing
D
Web Manifest
Action
Not found
FIX
Not found
Info::
No web manifest found
No manifest at standard paths (/manifest.json, /site.webmanifest). A manifest is optional but enables PWA features like home screen installation and standalone display.

No web manifest found.

D
Dark Mode Support
Action
Theme color only
FIX
Theme color only
Info::
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: #666
Info::
No dark mode signals detected
Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.
Info::
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.

D
Print Stylesheet
Action
No print styles
FIX
No print styles
Info::
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 ✗
F
Navigation UX
Action
No navigation patterns
FIX
No navigation patterns
Info::
1 navigation landmark(s) detected
Info::
No breadcrumbs, search, or skip link detected
These navigation aids help users orient themselves and find content efficiently, especially on large sites.
Breadcrumbs
Search
Skip Link
Labeled Navigation 1 <nav> element(s)
Back to Top
Hamburger Menu
Sticky Navigation Cannot reliably detect (CSS-based)
1 of 6 testable patterns navigation patterns detected. Limited navigation support. Consider adding breadcrumbs, search, and skip link.
C
Landmark Structure
Action
2 landmarks
REVIEW
2 landmarks
Critical::
No <main> landmark found
Screen reader users cannot quickly navigate to the primary content. Wrap your main content in <main>.
Info::
1 <nav> landmark(s) found
Info::
No contentinfo (footer) landmark
Warning::
Skip navigation link is missing (WCAG 2.4.1)
Add a skip link as the first focusable element so keyboard users can bypass repeated navigation.
Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it
BANNER header NAV MAIN (missing!) CONTENTINFO (missing!)

Screen reader users cannot quickly navigate to the primary content. Wrap your main content in <main>.

Why this matters

Without a <main> landmark, screen-reader users can't skip past the navigation to the page content — every page starts with re-reading the menu.

Learn more ▾

The <main> element marks the page's primary content area. Assistive tech offers a 'jump to main' shortcut — but only if <main> exists. Without it, every page navigation forces re-reading the header. Wrap your primary content in a single <main>.

Source: WAI-ARIA / WCAG 2.4.1

Add a skip link as the first focusable element so keyboard users can bypass repeated navigation.

Why this matters

Without a skip-nav link, keyboard users tab through every nav item before reaching content — every page, every visit.

Learn more ▾

WCAG 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks) requires a mechanism to skip past repeated content. The standard implementation is a 'Skip to main content' link that's the first focusable element, visually hidden until focused. Three lines of HTML + four of CSS.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 2.4.1

B
Alt Text Quality
3 of 8 images have issues
REVIEW
3 of 8 images have issues
Critical::
3 image(s) missing alt attribute
Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers.
Info::
5 image(s) with good alt text
8 images 5 good alt text 3 missing
IssueCount
missing3 image(s)

Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers.

Why this matters

Each image without alt text is a WCAG 1.1.1 failure — invisible to screen-reader users, lost from Google Image Search.

Learn more ▾

WCAG 2.1 Level A requires text alternatives for non-decorative images. Empty alt='' is fine for decorative; meaningful images need descriptive text. Common fixes: CMS audit + bulk add, build-time linter (alt-text-required ESLint rule), CI gate on Lighthouse a11y score.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 1.1.1 / WebAIM Million Report

C
Color Contrast (Screenshot)
Action
20 text elements analyzed, 2 fail WCAG AA
REVIEW

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

18 pass 2 fail WCAG AA 4 pass AA only
title Home - Europe PMC
3.66:1
#000000
on
#666666
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)
a Create an account
3.56:1
#000000
on
#20699C
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)
Show all checked elements (20)
ElementRatioRequiredFGBGResult
h2 Innovative features3.56:13.0:1
#000000
#20699C
Pass
h2 Comprehensive search3.56:13.0:1
#000000
#20699C
Pass
h2 Trusted partnerships3.56:13.0:1
#000000
#20699C
Pass
h2 Partnerships & fundi…3.56:13.0:1
#000000
#20699C
Pass
title Home - Europe PMC3.66:14.5:1
#000000
#666666
Fail
title Home - Europe PMC21.00:14.5:1
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pass
a Sign in21.00:14.5:1
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pass
a Create an account3.56:14.5:1
#000000
#20699C
Fail
span https://orcid.org11.41:14.5:1
#000000
#A6C3D7
Pass
span https://plus.europep…21.00:14.5:1
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pass
span Europe PMC21.00:14.5:1
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pass
span Menu17.81:14.5:1
#000000
#E3EFEB
Pass
span About17.63:14.5:1
#000000
#E1EEEB
Pass
span About Europe PMC17.63:14.5:1
#000000
#E1EEEB
Pass
span Preprints in Europe …17.63:14.5:1
#000000
#E1EEEB
Pass
span Funders17.29:14.5:1
#000000
#DEECEA
Pass
span Become a funder14.21:14.5:1
#000000
#BFD9DF
Pass
span Governance14.20:14.5:1
#000000
#BFD9DE
Pass
span Roadmap14.65:14.5:1
#000000
#C4DCDF
Pass
span Outreach14.65:14.5:1
#000000
#C4DCDF
Pass

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.

B
Lighthouse Accessibility Audits
Score 80/100 — 4 failing, 17 passed
REVIEW
80

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.

Names and labels

When a button doesn't have an accessible name, screen readers announce it as "button", making it unusable for users who rely on screen readers. Learn how to make buttons more accessible.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
div.col-16 > div#search-bar > form#search-bar-inputs > button#banner--search-button div.col-16 > div#search-bar > form#search-bar-inputs > button#banner--search-button

Informative elements should aim for short, descriptive alternate text. Decorative elements can be ignored with an empty alt attribute. Learn more about the `alt` attribute.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img
div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img
div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > div.partner-logos > img

These are opportunities to improve the semantics of the controls in your application. This may enhance the experience for users of assistive technology, like a screen reader.

Contrast

Low-contrast text is difficult or impossible for many users to read. Link text that is discernible improves the experience for users with low vision. Learn how to make links distinguishable.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
Why use Europe PMC div#features > div.feature > p > a
About Europe PMC div#features > div.feature > p > a
PubMed Central (PMC) div#features > div.feature > p > a
ELIXIR core data resource div#features > div.feature > p > a
Funders div#features > div.feature > p > a
EMBL-EBI div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > p > a
Europe PMC Funders' Group div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > p > a
National Library of Medicine (NLM) div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > p > a
PubMed Central International div#footer-bottom > div.partnership-and-funding > p > a

These are opportunities to improve the legibility of your content.

Best practices

One main landmark helps screen reader users navigate a web page. Learn more about landmarks.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
html html

These items highlight common accessibility best practices.

○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-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`
●Input buttons have discernible text.
●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.
●`[accesskey]` values are unique
●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents
●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 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
●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.
●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order
●Identical links have the same purpose.
○`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles
○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names
○ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role
○Deprecated ARIA roles were not used
○Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.
○ARIA input fields have accessible names
○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names
○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names
○Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes
○`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes
○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
○`[role]` values are valid
○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
○`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values
○`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled
○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 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.
○Skip links are focusable.
○No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0
○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.
○Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.
○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.
A+
Heading Hierarchy
5 headings
PASS
5 headings
Info::
Single H1 present
  • H1 Search life-sciences literature (47,933,735 articles, preprints and more)
  • H2 Innovative features
  • H2 Comprehensive search
  • H2 Trusted partnerships
  • H2 Partnerships & funding
A
Form Accessibility
1 of 2 controls have issues
PASS
1 of 2 controls have issues
Critical::
1 control(s) without accessible label
Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.
Got: <input type="button" id="data-protection-agree">
Info::
1 control(s) properly labeled
2 controls
1 labeled
0 placeholder only
1 unlabeled
ControlTypeLabelMethod
#banner--search-inputtextSearch life-sciences literature (47,933,735 articles, preprints and more)for/id
#data-protection-agreebutton(none)none

Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.

<input type="button" id="data-protection-agree">

Why this matters

Form controls without labels — assistive tech announces 'edit text' with no context; users can't complete forms.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 3.3.2

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

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