As accessibility considers users with disabilities, website performance considers devices and connection speeds. Optimizing for performance is critical to creating a genuinely accessible online experience.
What is Website Performance?
Website performance refers to how quickly and efficiently a website loads and responds to user interactions. It encompasses load time, responsiveness (how quickly a website reacts to user input), reliability, and overall user experience. Website performance is about delivering a fast, smooth, and enjoyable user experience.
How Does Website Performance Affect Website Accessibility?
Slow page load times occur when a browser struggles to download and execute a large number of scripts and resources. This process creates a frustrating and negative user experience, especially for keyboard-only and screen-reader users. For example, screen readers may start reading content before the page has finished loading, confusing users and making it hard for them to find their way around the website. Keyboard-only users can experience delayed input response, making navigation difficult and sometimes impossible.
Keep in mind that a keyboard and a screen reader are very closely linked. You can't effectively use a screen reader without a keyboard, so if something affects one, it most likely affects the other.
Another potential page performance issue that affects accessibility is when Javascript loads and updates the webpage with new content or functionality. If a user interacts with an element with focus, the Javascript page update process can drop that focus, confusing the user and creating a negative experience.
Strategies for Optimizing Page Load Times
Optimize Code and Scripts
Clean, well-structured code loads faster. When possible, use native, built-in HTML elements and attributes over custom elements.
- Minimize HTML, CSS, and JavaScript codes by breaking down complex scripts into smaller, asynchronous chunks and leverage code minification and compression techniques.
- Prioritize rendering by optimizing critical paths and using techniques like code splitting to load only necessary JavaScript.
Optimize Images and Multimedia
Large images and multimedia files can significantly slow down page load times. Optimizing these files by reducing their size without compromising quality is essential. Look at tools like Photoshop and online compressors to resize images. Additionally, modern image formats such as WebP can provide better compression and faster load times.
Minimize HTTP Requests
Each element on a webpage, such as images, scripts, and stylesheets, requires an HTTP request. You can minimize these requests by combining files and reducing the number of elements on the page.
Leverage Browser Caching
Browser caching allows frequently accessed webpage elements to be stored locally on a user's device, meaning the next time the user visits the site, the browser can load the page more quickly. Setting appropriate cache headers can help leverage this feature.
Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
CDNs distribute a website's content across multiple servers in different locations. When a user accesses the website, the content is delivered from the nearest server, reducing latency, ensuring availability, and improving load times.
Monitor and Test Performance
DubBot’s Uptime Monitoring feature allows you to monitor your website performance, including customized alerts and notifications.
Tools like Chrome Lighthouse can help identify areas for improvement, providing actionable insights and recommendations for optimizing page load times.
And always test with screen readers, keyboards, and other assistive technologies.
Remember, a website that loads slowly or is difficult to navigate can be a significant barrier for individuals with disabilities. By investing in both performance and accessibility, you're demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and a better user experience overall.
A solid first step involves conducting simultaneous performance and accessibility audits, analyzing the results, and continuously implementing and refining solutions. This continuous improvement process keeps you engaged and ensures your website is always at its best.
