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Accessible progress indicators: Examples and Testing

Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated

What to build

Use a progress indicator for completion of an ongoing task. Distinguish known progress from an indeterminate wait, provide a useful name and ensure completion or failure is communicated in text.

A practical example

A file processor shows “Preparing report, step 2 of 4.” If the system cannot measure completion, it uses an indeterminate state rather than inventing a percentage that stalls at 99.

Try the example

Use Tab and your keyboard controls, then compare the behavior with the checks below. This is an isolated learning example; test the complete pattern in your own product and assistive technology setup.

25%

How to check it

  1. Start the operation and inspect the indicator's name and value semantics.
  2. Check both measured and unknown-duration states, including cancellation or failure.
  3. Verify that a concise status announces meaningful milestones or completion without continually interrupting the user.

What can be missed

A progress bar is not a rating or a measure of risk. Do not announce every percentage tick or report completion before the underlying operation succeeds.

Markup and state contract

This concise markup illustrates names, relationships or state. Custom controls also need the keyboard interaction and state updates described in the checks and primary source; this snippet is not a complete component.

<label for="report-progress">Preparing report</label>
<progress id="report-progress" max="4" value="2">2 of 4 steps</progress>
<p role="status">Preparing report: step 2 of 4.</p>

Record your test

Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.

These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.

Primary sources and scope

This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.