What is ally.js?
ally.js is a JavaScript library that helps developers make web applications more accessible. It provides utilities for managing focus, visibility, and interaction states, ensuring that web applications are usable by people with disabilities.
What are ally.js's main functionalities?
Focus Management
This feature allows developers to programmatically manage focus on elements, ensuring that users can navigate through the application using keyboard shortcuts.
const ally = require('ally.js');
// Focus on an element
ally.element.focus('#my-element');
Visibility Checks
This feature helps in determining whether an element is visible on the screen, which is crucial for accessibility as it ensures that users are aware of all interactive elements.
const ally = require('ally.js');
// Check if an element is visible
const isVisible = ally.element.visible('#my-element');
Interaction States
This feature allows developers to check if an element can be focused, ensuring that all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard navigation.
const ally = require('ally.js');
// Check if an element is focusable
const isFocusable = ally.is.focusable('#my-element');
Other packages similar to ally.js
focus-trap
focus-trap is a library that provides a way to trap focus within a DOM node. It is useful for managing focus in modal dialogs and other interactive components. Compared to ally.js, focus-trap is more specialized in managing focus within a confined area.
a11y-dialog
a11y-dialog is a lightweight library for creating accessible dialog windows. It ensures that dialogs are properly announced by screen readers and that focus is managed correctly. While ally.js offers a broader range of accessibility utilities, a11y-dialog focuses specifically on dialog accessibility.
tabbable
tabbable is a utility that identifies the tabbable elements within a given container. It is useful for managing keyboard navigation within complex interfaces. Compared to ally.js, tabbable is more focused on identifying and managing tabbable elements.