University IT
Lists
Lists help organize information into clear, easy-to-read groups. When you create lists correctly, you make your content more accessible to everyone, including people who use screen readers. This guide explains how to use ordered and unordered lists in a way that meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.
What Are Lists?
There are two main types of lists you can use:
- Ordered lists show items in a specific sequence. Use them when the order matters, such as step-by-step instructions or ranked items. Ordered lists usually display numbers (1, 2, 3) or letters (a, b, c).
- Unordered lists show items where the order does not matter. Use them for groups of related items, like a shopping list or a set of features. Unordered lists usually display bullet points.
Why Proper Lists Matter for Accessibility
When you use real list code instead of just typing numbers or dashes, you give important information to assistive technology. Screen readers announce lists to users. For example, a screen reader might say, "List with five items." This tells the user how much content is coming and helps them understand how it is organized.
If you fake a list by typing hyphens or numbers manually, screen readers cannot recognize it as a list. Users may miss helpful structure and become confused.
