open-telemetry / opentelemetry.io

UI Design and Accessibility for OpenTelemetry.io

Understanding the principles of usability and accessibility used within OpenTelemetry.io, including how to design and develop accessible UI components.

What is UI Design and Accessibility?

According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), “Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can:

  1. Perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web.
  2. Perceive: Text alternatives for non-text content, captions for videos, and audio descriptions for multimedia.
  3. Understand: Make all information and content easily accessible to all.
  4. Navigate: Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
  5. Interact: Make it easier for users to see and hear content, and make all functionality available from a keyboard.

For OpenTelemetry.io, UI Design and Accessibility refer to the practices and techniques used to ensure that the project’s user interface (UI) is usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

Why is UI Design and Accessibility important?

UI Design and Accessibility are crucial for several reasons:

  1. Legal Compliance: Many countries have laws requiring websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. For example, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites.
  2. Inclusivity: Making your UI accessible ensures that you’re not excluding any potential users based on their abilities.
  3. User Experience: Accessible UIs are often easier to use for everyone, not just people with disabilities. For example, clear labeling and keyboard accessibility can make a UI more intuitive for all users.
  4. Business Benefits: Providing an accessible UI can lead to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement.

OpenTelemetry.io’s Approach to UI Design and Accessibility

OpenTelemetry.io follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 to ensure its UI is accessible. The project’s UI components are designed and developed with accessibility in mind, following best practices such as:

  • Proper use of HTML semantics
  • Clear and descriptive labeling
  • Keyboard accessibility
  • Color contrast
  • Text alternatives for non-text content
  • Captions for multimedia

Examples of Accessible UI Components in OpenTelemetry.io

Buttons

OpenTelemetry.io’s buttons are designed with proper labeling and keyboard accessibility:

import { Button } from '@opentelemetry/components/button';
          
          <Button label="Submit">Submit</Button>

Forms

OpenTelemetry.io’s forms include clear labeling and keyboard accessibility:

import { Form, Input } from '@opentelemetry/components/form';
          
          <Form>
            <Input label="Name" name="name" />
            <Input label="Email" name="email" type="email" />
            <button type="submit">Submit</button>
          </Form>

Icons

OpenTelemetry.io’s icons include text alternatives for screen readers:

import { Icon } from '@opentelemetry/components/icon';
          import React from 'react';
          
          function SearchIconWithLabel() {
            return (
              <>
                <Icon name="search" />
                <span className="sr-only">Search</span>
              </>
            );
          }
          
          // Usage
          <SearchIconWithLabel />

For more information on OpenTelemetry.io’s UI Design and Accessibility practices, please refer to the project’s Accessibility Guidelines.

Sources: