ToolCraft conventionFoundational
NVDA
Free, widely used Windows screen reader, and the most practical starting point for manual testing.
Definition
An open-source screen reader for Windows with substantial real-world usage. Free availability makes it the default choice for teams beginning screen reader testing.
Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.
Good for
- Manual screen reader testing
- Verifying semantics and announcements
- Learning how screen readers work
Watch out for
Behaviour differs between screen readers and browsers. Testing with NVDA alone is a start, not full coverage.
Continue from here
Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.
Often used with
These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.
- Screen ReadersAccessibility
- Status Messages and Live RegionsAccessibility
- Accessibility AuditWorkflow
Nearby in the Atlas
Adjacent territory, found through shared tags rather than a stated link.