Standards
Accessible static websites by default
Why the managed Astro template treats accessibility as the starting point rather than a finishing pass.
Accessible defaults reduce the cost of every future change. When semantic markup, focus-visible outlines, and meaningful alt text are part of the template baseline, every new page inherits those traits without an extra review step.
Semantic markup as a baseline
The template ships with semantic landmarks for the page shell, headings that establish a clear outline, and link/button styles that work with the keyboard. Anchors are real anchors. Buttons are real buttons. Cards that link as a whole use a single anchor instead of a nested click handler.
Focus and motion
Every interactive element shares the same focus-visible outline, so keyboard navigation feels predictable across pages and breakpoints. Hover effects are paired with focus states so users who do not use a pointer never lose access to a feature.
Alt text and decorative images
Image alt text is required when an image carries unique information. Decorative thumbnails inside whole-card anchors use empty alt text to avoid duplicate screen-reader output. The image registry stores alt strings alongside source URLs so authors can review and replace them in one place.
A short list of practices the template encourages:
- Use one clear h1 per page.
- Keep navigation labels descriptive and stable.
- Pair every hover with a visible focus state.
- Treat decorative imagery as decorative; treat informative imagery as informative.
The result is a site that ages well when content changes and a project that can pass an accessibility review without rework.