Accessibility Testing for Mobile Apps

What is Mobile App Accessibility Testing?

Mobile app accessibility testing is a testing process specifically designed to evaluate whether a mobile app is user-friendly and easy to use for all users, including people with disabilities. It mainly focuses on whether the app’s interface and functions can be accessed and used by users with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive special needs.

Accessibility testing typically involves checking whether the app follows specific accessibility standards and guidelines, such as the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) in the United States or accessibility regulations in various countries/regions.

Why Conduct Accessibility Testing?

There are several main reasons for conducting accessibility testing on a device’s mobile app:

• Expand User Base: Accessible design helps people with disabilities to use apps better, thereby expanding the potential user base of the product, especially in a cross-border e-commerce environment where user needs vary from country to country and region to region.
• Improve User Experience: An app that is friendly to everyone usually means a better overall user experience, thereby increasing user satisfaction and app usage.
• Meet Legal and Compliance Requirements: Many countries and regions have laws requiring the provision of accessible products and services, especially in public service and commercial areas. Conducting accessibility testing helps ensure that the app complies with these legal requirements.
• Market Competitiveness: Emphasizing accessible design can serve as a differentiating advantage for products, enhancing brand image and market competitiveness.

What Does Accessibility Testing Include?

Accessibility testing for mobile apps mainly includes the following aspects:

• Interface Accessibility Testing: Including testing of the app’s text size, font size, color contrast, etc., to ensure that users can easily read and use the app on different devices and in different environments.
• Audio and Video Accessibility Testing: Testing the app’s audio and video content to ensure that non-text information is also accessible to deaf, mute, and visually impaired users, such as providing subtitles, sign language interpretation, or audio descriptions.
• Navigation and Interaction Accessibility Testing: Checking the usability of the app’s navigation and interaction elements (such as buttons, links, forms, etc.) to ensure they are user-friendly and easy to operate for all users.
• Compliance and Policy Testing: Checking whether the app complies with relevant accessibility regulations and policies, such as WCAG 2.1 or accessibility regulations in various countries/regions.
• Feedback and User Testing: Collecting user feedback and conducting user testing to understand the app’s accessibility performance and identify potential problems and areas for improvement.

Accessibility Testing Methods and Best Practices

When performing accessibility testing, there are several methods and best practices that can be adopted to ensure the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the testing:

• Automated Testing Tools: Using automated testing tools, such as Accessibility Scanner, axe-core, Lighthouse, etc., can quickly scan the app and identify potential accessibility issues, providing a reference for further manual testing.
• Manual Testing: Manual testing is an indispensable part of accessibility testing, especially for interactions requiring user experience and some complex scenarios. Manual testing can be performed by simulating specific user roles and scenarios, such as blind users, colorblind users, and hearing-impaired users.
• User Participation: Having people with disabilities who actually use assistive technology (such as screen readers) participate in the testing process can provide real feedback and suggestions, ensuring that the app’s accessibility meets user needs.
• Continuous Testing and Monitoring: Accessibility is not a one-time job, but a continuous improvement process. Apps should undergo continuous accessibility testing during development and be monitored and updated after release to ensure the continued effectiveness of accessibility features.

What Benefits Can Accessibility Testing Bring to App Development?

The benefits of accessibility testing are not only reflected in moral and legal aspects, but also provide substantial help to app developers and businesses:

• Wider User Base: By ensuring that the app is friendly to all users, it can attract more users, especially people with disabilities, which helps to expand market coverage and increase revenue.
• Enhance Brand Image: Investing in and implementing accessible design demonstrates the company’s commitment to inclusiveness and social responsibility, which helps to enhance brand image.
• Improve User Loyalty: When users feel that an app has taken good consideration of their special needs, they are more likely to become loyal users and recommend it to others.

Accessibility testing is a crucial step in developing high-quality, user-friendly mobile apps. By adopting scientific methods and best practices, businesses and developers can ensure that their apps are not only excellent in terms of functionality, but also achieve good results in user experience. Especially when facing the cross-border e-commerce market, accessible design can help teams build a truly global product that welcomes users from all over the world.