Use only valid ARIA attributes

WCAG 4.1.2
Name, Role, Value

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Accessibility isn’t just about avoiding violations — it’s about ensuring that everyone can use your product with confidence. This guide explains each rule’s intent, highlights common issues, and shows how to fix them according to WCAG and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

These guidelines do not replace the official WCAG standards. They’re concise, developer-focused notes to help you identify and fix issues effectively.

Use only ARIA attributes defined in the spec — no typos, no guesses.

Why this matters and how to fix it

Why this matters

Assistive technologies depend on correct ARIA attribute names. Misspelled, outdated, or unsupported attributes are ignored, which can remove labels, hide descriptions, or break widget behavior.

How to fix this issue

Ensure every `aria-*` attribute matches the WAI-ARIA specification exactly. Replace invalid attributes with correct names or remove unsupported ones. Prefer native HTML semantics where possible.

Automated detection · Manual review recommended

Developer guidance

Common issues arise from hand-coded components or copy-pasted snippets. Use the GetWCAG automated scanner to detect invalid ARIA attributes and maintain a list of approved ARIA patterns in your design system.

Code examples

Incorrect Implementation

<div aria-labeled="Save"></div>

Correct Implementation

<div aria-label="Save"></div>

Real-World Examples

Before

<div aria-hiden="true">Hidden content</div> <!-- Misspelled attribute, screen reader ignores it -->

After

<div aria-hidden="true">Hidden content</div> <!-- Correct attribute, screen reader respects hidden state -->

Manual testing

  1. 1. Inspect elements with `aria-*` attributes.
  2. 2. Verify that each attribute matches the WAI-ARIA specification exactly.
  3. 3. Correct any invalid or misspelled attributes.
  4. 4. Test with a screen reader to ensure roles and states are announced correctly.
  5. 5. Run accessibility checks with GetWCAG Scanner to catch future invalid ARIA usage.
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