Lists

Lists are great from an accessibility standpoint because they provide a built in structured order and navigation for content. Lists are recommended as potential replacements for simple tables, as tables generally require a bit more understanding to make accessible than lists.

Main Considerations

• Lists should always be checked to ensure that all intended items are within one list instead of multiple lists. Sometimes adding spacing between bullets breaks one list into multiple.
• Nested lists, lists within lists, are okay, as long as they are coded properly. Consider if your nested lists should be separate lists or divided with headings instead.
• Never rely on indentation to provide a visual list, use the proper structure instead.
• Website navigation menus and document table of contents are often coded as lists. The menu bar on this website is technically a list of 6 items.

Examples

Most document and website programs have built in styles for creating numbered and bulleted lists. Unordered lists are lists using bullet points or other styles when no specific order is intended. Ordered lists are numbered and meant to go in a specific order. Screen readers will give context about a list by saying something like "List of 9 items...Item 1...Item 2...."

Judgment calls need to be made about how content is organized, and choices can often range from just within the text, to lists, a table, or even a chart. There is not one best answer that applies to all content.