Shopify Accessibility Audit

Testing Context

This analysis combines findings from:

  1. Live testing session (documented in video)

  2. Backend discovery where the accessibility expert examined platform settings and capabilities

Skip Link Implementation

Testing began with keyboard navigation to verify skip link functionality. When pressing Tab, a skip link appeared as the first focusable element. The link passed color contrast requirements and successfully moved keyboard focus to the main content when activated.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Skip link presence

  • First focusable element positioning

  • Color contrast compliance

  • Proper focus management

  • Functional content skip

Navigation Structure Implementation

Testing revealed a complex navigation system with multiple navigation areas. The primary navigation used proper semantic structure, though there were some inconsistencies with secondary navigation elements.

Critical observation: Account and cart navigation elements lacked proper nav tag implementation, which was noted as a concern in the audit matrix.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Primary nav tag implementation

  • Dropdown keyboard accessibility

  • Separate buttons for opening/closing dropdowns

  • Button labeling and most ARIA attributes

  • Mobile menu keyboard accessibility

  • Zoom compatibility

✗ Fails:

  • Nav tag labeling

  • Missing aria-haspopup on some elements

Form Implementation

The contact form testing revealed a sophisticated implementation using a Material Design-like pattern for labels. Labels remained visible while maintaining proper form structure.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Field labeling

  • Single label per field

  • Complete autocomplete attributes

  • Visible focus indicators

  • Color contrast compliance

  • Required field indication

  • Error summaries present above fields

✗ Fails:

  • Error announcements to screen readers

  • Success message focus management

  • Error message descriptiveness

Carousel Implementation

The carousel component demonstrated strong accessibility features with proper region labeling and ARIA implementation. The tester noted this was "the best carousel implementation" among tested platforms.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Proper section/region wrapping with aria-label

  • Slides structured with group role and count information

  • Button implementation for controls

  • Hidden content management

  • Zoom compatibility

  • Keyboard focus management

✗ Fails:

  • Missing pause controls for autoplay

  • Reduced motion support

Video Implementation

Testing covered both platform-hosted videos and YouTube embeds. The platform used native browser video controls for hosted content, ensuring broad compatibility.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Keyboard accessible controls

  • Proper button implementation

  • Accessible control labeling

  • Zoom compatibility

✗ Fails:

  • Caption support limitations

  • Focus management on video controls

Document Structure and Language

The audit revealed proper document structure with appropriate landmark regions and language definition.

Matrix Findings Summary: ✓ Passes:

  • Content contained in landmark regions

  • Proper tab/reading order

  • Page language definition

  • No justified text

  • Logical content sequence

Overall Platform Metrics

Final quantitative assessment from matrix:

  • Total passing criteria: 60

  • Total concerns: 2

  • Total failures: 11

  • Total N/A items: 7

  • Percentage of good applicable checks: 82.19%

  • Platform ranking: 1st out of 5 tested platforms

Technical Recommendations

Based on combined testing observations and matrix results:

Critical Priorities:

  1. Implement proper nav tag usage for account/cart navigation

  2. Enhance error message handling and focus management

  3. Improve screen reader announcements for form feedback

  4. Add pause controls for autoplay content

  5. Implement proper reduced motion support

Enhancement Opportunities:

  1. Improve focus management for video controls

  2. Add native caption support for platform videos

  3. Enhance error message descriptiveness

  4. Standardize navigation labeling

  5. Improve success message focus management

Conclusion

The combined analysis demonstrates Shopify's strong foundation in accessibility implementation, scoring 82.19% on applicable checks and ranking first among tested platforms. While some critical issues exist, particularly around form feedback and navigation structure, the platform shows consistent attention to accessibility concerns across most components. The skip link implementation, carousel functionality, and overall document structure represent particularly strong areas, while form feedback and secondary navigation elements present the most significant opportunities for improvement.