MenuBar - Accessibility Issue On Menu Items

Introduction

The MenuBar component in PrimeVue is a crucial element for navigation in web applications. However, it has been reported that the menu items in the MenuBar component are not accessible due to an invalid attribute. In this article, we will delve into the issue, explore the possible reasons, and discuss the expected behavior.

Describe the Bug

The MenuBar component menu items are not accessible due to the attribute aria-level. This attribute is not valid for the role menuitem. The presence of this attribute causes the menu items to fail the accessibility audit in Lighthouse.

Pull Request Link

The pull request related to this issue can be found at https://github.com/primefaces/primevue/pull/7703.

Reason for Not Contributing a PR

Although the issue has been reported, there is no pull request submitted to fix the issue. The possible reasons for not contributing a PR are:

• Lack of time: The contributor might not have had the necessary time to work on the issue.
• Unsure how to implement the fix/feature: The contributor might not have been familiar with the codebase or unsure about how to implement the fix.
• Difficulty understanding the codebase: The contributor might have found it challenging to understand the codebase and implement the fix.
• Other: There might be other reasons that are not listed here.

Other Reason

The contributor has not provided any other reason for not contributing a PR.

Reproducer

The reproducer for this issue can be found at https://primevue.org/menubar/.

Environment

The environment used to reproduce the issue is:

• Chrome navigator: The issue was reproduced using the Chrome navigator.
• Lighthouse tool: The Lighthouse tool was used to run the accessibility audit.
• Vue version: The Vue version used is 3.5.13.
• PrimeVue version: The PrimeVue version used is 4.3.4.
• Node version: The Node version used is not specified.

Browser(s)

The browser(s) used to reproduce the issue are not specified.

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

To reproduce the behavior, follow these steps:

1. Go to https://primevue.org/menubar/.
2. Open the developer console.
3. Run Lighthouse - Accessibility.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the MenuBar component should be accessible. The menu items should pass the accessibility audit in Lighthouse.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MenuBar component menu items are not accessible due to the attribute aria-level. This attribute is not valid for the role menuitem. The expected behavior is that the MenuBar component should be accessible. To fix this issue, the attribute aria-level should be removed from the menu items.

Fixing the Issue

To fix the issue, the attribute aria-level should be removed from the menu items. This can be done by modifying the MenuBar component code to remove the attribute. The modified code should look like this:

<template>
  <div>
    <p-menu>
      <p-submenu label="File">
        <p-menuitem label="New" />
        <p-menuitem label="Open" />
        <p-menuitem label="Save" />
      </p-submenu>
      <p-submenu label="Edit">
        <p-menuitem label="Cut" />
        <p-menuitem label="Copy" />
        <p-menuitem label="Paste" />
      </p-submenu>
    </p-menu>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
  name: 'MenuBar',
  data() {
    return {
      items: [
        {
          label: 'File',
          items: [
            { label: 'New' },
            { label: 'Open' },
            { label: 'Save' },
          ],
        },
        {
          label: 'Edit',
          items: [
            { label: 'Cut' },
            { label: 'Copy' },
            { label: 'Paste' },
          ],
        },
      ],
    };
  },
};
</script>

In the modified code, the attribute aria-level has been removed from the menu items. This should fix the accessibility issue.

Testing the Fix

To test the fix, follow these steps:

1. Go to https://primevue.org/menubar/.
2. Open the developer console.
3. Run Lighthouse - Accessibility.

The menu items should now pass the accessibility audit in Lighthouse. This indicates that the fix has been successful.

Conclusion

Q: What is the accessibility issue with the MenuBar component?

A: The accessibility issue with the MenuBar component is that the menu items are not accessible due to the attribute aria-level. This attribute is not valid for the role menuitem.

Q: Why is the attribute aria-level not valid for the role menuitem?

A: The attribute aria-level is not valid for the role menuitem because it is intended for use with roles that have a hierarchical structure, such as menu or treeitem. The role menuitem does not have a hierarchical structure, so the attribute aria-level is not applicable.

Q: What is the expected behavior of the MenuBar component?

A: The expected behavior of the MenuBar component is that it should be accessible. The menu items should pass the accessibility audit in Lighthouse.

Q: How can the accessibility issue be fixed?

A: The accessibility issue can be fixed by removing the attribute aria-level from the menu items. This can be done by modifying the MenuBar component code to remove the attribute.

Q: What are the benefits of making the MenuBar component accessible?

A: Making the MenuBar component accessible has several benefits, including:

• Improved user experience: An accessible MenuBar component provides a better user experience for users with disabilities.
• Compliance with accessibility standards: An accessible MenuBar component complies with accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).
• Increased reach: An accessible MenuBar component can be used by a wider range of users, including users with disabilities.

Q: How can developers ensure that their components are accessible?

A: Developers can ensure that their components are accessible by following best practices for accessibility, including:

• Using accessible roles and attributes: Using roles and attributes that are valid for the component's purpose.
• Providing alternative text: Providing alternative text for images and other non-text content.
• Ensuring keyboard navigation: Ensuring that the component can be navigated using a keyboard.
• Testing for accessibility: Testing the component for accessibility using tools, such as Lighthouse.

Q: What are some common accessibility issues in web components?

A: Some common accessibility issues in web components include:

• Missing alternative text: Missing alternative text for images and other non-text content.
• Invalid roles and attributes: Using roles and attributes that are not valid for the component's purpose.
• Poor keyboard navigation: Poor keyboard navigation, such as not being able to navigate the component using a keyboard.
• Inconsistent layout: Inconsistent layout, such as not being able to use a screen reader to navigate the component.

Q: How can developers get started with making their components accessible?

A: Developers can get started with making their components accessible by:

• Learning about accessibility: Learning about accessibility and the best practices for making components accessible.
• Using tools: Using tools, such as Lighthouse, to test for accessibility.
• Following accessibility guidelines: Following accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).
• Testing for accessibility: Testing the component for accessibility using tools and manual testing.