Accessibility
Accessibility features are technologies that make products and services more accessible and help people with disabilities use modern devices, computer programs, and the internet. For example:
- Speech recognition makes it possible to manage services using voice commands instead of a keyboard.
- Text-to-speech on webpages helps people in everyday life.
- Semantic site markup using screen reader programs helps blind people identify text, images, and links on webpages.
- Large text and pictures make it easier for people with low vision to understand the site's information.
- Underlining or highlighting links ensures that color-blind users notice them.
- Large links are easier to click for people with motor impairments.
- Subtitles and sign language make video content more accessible to deaf and hearing-impaired people.
- The absence of flashing effects ensures that webpages don't trigger seizures in people with neurological disorders.
- Simple text with explanatory graphs and animations make information more accessible for people with cognitive disabilities, such as dyslexia.
Operating system features
Special browser settings
Modern browsers have built-in assistive technologies, such as page and font zoom, sound captchas, text-to-speech readers on sites (including voice descriptions of videos, pictures, banners, and buttons), video subtitles, user speech recognition, interactive prompts in the interface, and other accessibility features. Browsers also support screen reader software.
Screen readers
Screen reader software allows people with low vision to read from a computer screen using touch or voice control. The program reads aloud everything on the screen, and the user controls it with touch gestures and keyboard shortcuts. Screen readers aren't built into browsers: you need to install them yourself. Some screen readers are built into the operating system. Select the program supported by your browser.
Program | Operating system | Browser compatibility |
---|---|---|
JAWS (proprietary license) | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Microsoft Edge |
NVDA | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Microsoft Edge |
ZoomText (proprietary license) | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome |
Orca | Linux | Yandex versions 21.3.3 and above Mozilla Firefox |
VoiceOver | macOS (built-in) How to start the program Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Cmd + F5 | Yandex versions 21.3.0 and above Safari |
Program | Operating system | Browser compatibility |
---|---|---|
JAWS (proprietary license) | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Microsoft Edge |
NVDA | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Microsoft Edge |
ZoomText (proprietary license) | MS Windows | Yandex versions 14.12 and above Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome |
Orca | Linux | Yandex versions 21.3.3 and above Mozilla Firefox |
VoiceOver | macOS (built-in) How to start the program Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Cmd + F5 | Yandex versions 21.3.0 and above Safari |
Page zoom and font size
Page zoom and font size in the browser can be adjusted to make it easier for visually impaired people to read from the screen.
To learn how to change the page zoom or font size in your browser, see Help.
Keyboard shortcuts
You can use these keys and keyboard shortcuts to perform actions without a mouse.
Action | Windows | macOS |
---|---|---|
Expand the window to full screen | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Exit full screen mode | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Zoom in on the page | Ctrl + Plus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Plus |
Zoom out on the page | Ctrl + Minus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Minus |
Set the page zoom to 100% | Ctrl + 0 | Ctrl + ⌘ + 0 |
Go to the search bar | Ctrl + L Alt + D F6 | |
Forward | Alt + → | ⌘ + ] |
Back | Alt + ← | ⌘ + [ |
Switch between elements in the browser window. To learn more, see F6 hotkey | F6 | |
Go to bookmarks | Alt + Shift + B | |
Go to the SmartBox icons | Alt + Shift + T | |
Open the context menu Note. Zoom may use this key combination. If necessary, disable it in the Zoom settings. | Shift + F10 |
Action | Windows | macOS |
---|---|---|
Expand the window to full screen | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Exit full screen mode | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Zoom in on the page | Ctrl + Plus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Plus |
Zoom out on the page | Ctrl + Minus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Minus |
Set the page zoom to 100% | Ctrl + 0 | Ctrl + ⌘ + 0 |
Go to the search bar | Ctrl + L Alt + D F6 | |
Forward | Alt + → | ⌘ + ] |
Back | Alt + ← | ⌘ + [ |
Switch between elements in the browser window. To learn more, see F6 hotkey | F6 | |
Go to bookmarks | Alt + Shift + B | |
Go to the SmartBox icons | Alt + Shift + T | |
Open the context menu Note. Zoom may use this key combination. If necessary, disable it in the Zoom settings. | Shift + F10 |
Keyboard shortcuts in screen readers: