How can I make a dropdown menu accessible for screen readers?

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How can I make a dropdown menu accessible for screen readers?

Asked on Nov 24, 2025

Answer

To make a dropdown menu accessible for screen readers, you should use semantic HTML elements and ARIA attributes to convey the correct information to assistive technologies.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
    <nav>
      <ul>
        <li>
          <button aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" id="menuButton">Menu</button>
          <ul aria-labelledby="menuButton" hidden>
            <li><a href="#item1">Item 1</a></li>
            <li><a href="#item2">Item 2</a></li>
            <li><a href="#item3">Item 3</a></li>
          </ul>
        </li>
      </ul>
    </nav>
    <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

Use <button> with aria-haspopup="true" to indicate a dropdown.
Toggle aria-expanded between true and false to reflect the menu state.
Use hidden attribute to hide the dropdown content initially.
Ensure the dropdown is focusable and navigable via keyboard.

✅ Answered with HTML best practices.

Ask any question about HTML here... and get an instant response.

How can I make a dropdown menu accessible for screen readers?

Asked on Nov 24, 2025

Answer

Additional Comment:

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