Accessibility
Accessibility isn't just about disabled access, it's about providing a full service to users who access web sites from devices other than computers and also to those who have different screen sizes, settings and browser types. Providing full access to these users ensures that the maximum number of people will be able to use your site. In addition, recent UK Legislation deems that website must display an appropriate lever of accessibility. This legislation splits accessibility into three groups, Priority 1 (must be satisfied), Priority 2 (should satisy) and Priority 3 (may satisfy).I aim for all sites that I build to conform to Priority 1 & 2 Accessibility Standards and where possible Priority 3.
This site is currently undergoing an internal accessibility review as there are some aspects that can be improved.
For example, the page width is 1000px, which poses problems for users using an 800x600 resolution, about 20% of Internet users. However, you can view this page optimised for screen resolution of 800x600.
Accessibility isn't just about disabled access, it's about providing a full service to users who access web sites from devices other than computers and also to those who have different screen sizes, settings and browser types. Providing full access to these users ensures that the maximum number of people will be able to use your site. In addition, recent UK Legislation deems that website must display an appropriate lever of accessibility. This legislation splits accessibility into three groups, Priority 1 (must be satisfied), Priority 2 (should satisy) and Priority 3 (may satisfy).I aim for all sites that I build to conform to Priority 1 & 2 Accessibility Standards and where possible Priority 3.
This site is currently undergoing an internal accessibility review as there are some aspects that can be improved.
For example, the page width is 1000px, which poses problems for users using an 800x600 resolution, about 20% of Internet users. However, you can view this page optimised for screen resolution of 800x600.
Standards
Conforming to coding standards is the most important thing for a website, as a properly built site is more likely to be accessible and fast loading than a poorly formed site. For example, an XHTML Transitional compliant website instantly meets many of the basic accessibility standards without the need for any extra coding.
Browsers can also parse standard compliant pages more quickly which will lead to a faster downloading website that will work on any standards compliant browser.
Conforming to coding standards is the most important thing for a website, as a properly built site is more likely to be accessible and fast loading than a poorly formed site. For example, an XHTML Transitional compliant website instantly meets many of the basic accessibility standards without the need for any extra coding.
Browsers can also parse standard compliant pages more quickly which will lead to a faster downloading website that will work on any standards compliant browser.
Optimisation
Speed is vital part of usability and usability is one of the main reasons why people will return to a website. Therefore it is important for a site to be able to download quickly (even in these days of increasing broadband) while maintaining a high level of design. I have found that there are a number of fairly straightforward ways to optimise your website by adjusting your coding techniques. The most effective of these is to start using CSS positioning rather than HTML (tables, etc). This instantly halved the weight of my pages and was much easier to produce than the clunky HTML I was used to.
Speed is vital part of usability and usability is one of the main reasons why people will return to a website. Therefore it is important for a site to be able to download quickly (even in these days of increasing broadband) while maintaining a high level of design. I have found that there are a number of fairly straightforward ways to optimise your website by adjusting your coding techniques. The most effective of these is to start using CSS positioning rather than HTML (tables, etc). This instantly halved the weight of my pages and was much easier to produce than the clunky HTML I was used to.
- Optimisation Checklist:
- Choose an appropriate DOCTYPE
- Reduce HTTP requests
- Write standards compliant code
- Keep graphics files as small as possible
CSS
CSS ties in with all three other topics in this section. Stylesheets provide a much more flexible approach to web development allowing easy development of standards compliant websites. Along with this flexibility, sizing and positioning block elements in a stylesheet provides much cleaner code that a site that relies on HTML to do this. In many cases it can half the amount code required.
CSS ties in with all three other topics in this section. Stylesheets provide a much more flexible approach to web development allowing easy development of standards compliant websites. Along with this flexibility, sizing and positioning block elements in a stylesheet provides much cleaner code that a site that relies on HTML to do this. In many cases it can half the amount code required.
Search Engine Optimisation
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is optimising your website so that your pages receive the highest possible ranking in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This involves work on both the content and the code behind the site and is a constantly evolving process.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is optimising your website so that your pages receive the highest possible ranking in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This involves work on both the content and the code behind the site and is a constantly evolving process.