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.
On this plate
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.
Local chart
TOOL·035 · Region VII · Grid F4
This entry and the entries it is stated to connect with. Each line is labelled with what the connection means.
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 ReadersA11Y·005 · Accessibility
- Status Messages and Live RegionsA11Y·009 · Accessibility
- Accessibility AuditFLOW·012 · Workflow
Nearby in the Atlas
Adjacent territory, found through shared tags rather than a stated link.