Implement WCAG 2.2 accessibility patterns in Shopify Liquid themes. Covers e-commerce-specific components including product cards, carousels, cart drawers, price display, forms, filters, and modals. Use when building accessible theme components, fixing accessibility issues, or reviewing ARIA patterns in .liquid files.
---
name: liquid-theme-a11y
description: "Implement WCAG 2.2 accessibility patterns in Shopify Liquid themes. Covers e-commerce-specific components including product cards, carousels, cart drawers, price display, forms, filters, and modals. Use when building accessible theme components, fixing accessibility issues, or reviewing ARIA patterns in .liquid files."
---
# Accessibility for Shopify Liquid Themes
## Core Principle
Every interactive component must work with keyboard only, screen readers, and reduced-motion preferences. Start with semantic HTML — add ARIA only when native semantics are insufficient.
## Decision Table: Which Pattern?
| Component | HTML Element | ARIA Pattern | Reference |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| Expandable content | `<details>/<summary>` | None needed | [Accordion](#accordion) |
| Modal/dialog | `<dialog>` | `aria-modal="true"` | [Modal](#modal) |
| Tooltip/popup | `[popover]` attribute | `role="tooltip"` fallback | [Tooltip](#tooltip) |
| Dropdown menu | `<nav>` + `<ul>` | `aria-expanded` on triggers | [Navigation](#dropdown-navigation) |
| Tab interface | `<div>` | `role="tablist/tab/tabpanel"` | [Tabs](#tabs) |
| Carousel/slider | `<div>` | `role="region"` + `aria-roledescription` | [Carousel](#carousel) |
| Product card | `<article>` | `aria-labelledby` | [Product card](#product-card) |
| Form | `<form>` | `aria-invalid`, `aria-describedby` | [Forms](#forms) |
| Cart drawer | `<dialog>` | Focus trap | [Cart drawer](#cart-drawer) |
| Price display | `<span>` | `aria-label` for context | [Prices](#price-display) |
| Filters | `<form>` + `<fieldset>` | `aria-expanded` for disclosures | [Filters](#product-filters) |
## Page Structure
### Landmarks
```html
<body>
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">{{ 'accessibility.skip_to_content' | t }}</a>
<header role="banner">
<nav aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.main_navigation' | t }}">...</nav>
</header>
<main id="main-content">
<!-- All page content inside main -->
</main>
<footer role="contentinfo">
<nav aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.footer_navigation' | t }}">...</nav>
</footer>
</body>
```
- Single `<header>`, `<main>`, `<footer>` per page
- Multiple `<nav>` elements must have distinct `aria-label`
- All content must live inside a landmark
### Skip Link
```css
.skip-link {
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: -999px;
z-index: 999;
}
.skip-link:focus {
position: fixed;
inset-block-start: 0;
inset-inline-start: 0;
padding: 1rem;
background: var(--color-background);
color: var(--color-foreground);
}
```
### Headings
- One `<h1>` per page, never skip levels (h1 → h3)
- Use real heading elements, not styled divs
- Template: `<h1>` is typically the page/product title
## Focus Management
### Focus Indicators
```css
/* All interactive elements */
:focus-visible {
outline: 2px solid rgb(var(--color-focus));
outline-offset: 2px;
}
/* High contrast mode */
@media (forced-colors: active) {
:focus-visible {
outline: 3px solid LinkText;
}
}
```
- Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio for focus indicators
- Use `:focus-visible` (not `:focus`) to avoid showing on click
- Never `outline: none` without a visible replacement
### Focus Trapping (Modals/Drawers)
- Trap focus inside modals, drawers, and dialogs
- Return focus to trigger element on close
- First focusable element gets focus on open
- Query all focusable elements: `a[href], button:not([disabled]), input:not([disabled]), select, textarea, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])`
See [focus and keyboard patterns](references/focus-and-keyboard.md) for full FocusTrap implementation.
## Component Patterns
### Product Card
```html
<article class="product-card" aria-labelledby="ProductTitle-{{ product.id }}">
<a href="{{ product.url }}" class="product-card__link" aria-labelledby="ProductTitle-{{ product.id }}">
<img
src="{{ product.featured_image | image_url: width: 400 }}"
alt="{{ product.featured_image.alt | escape }}"
loading="lazy"
width="{{ product.featured_image.width }}"
height="{{ product.featured_image.height }}"
>
</a>
<h3 id="ProductTitle-{{ product.id }}">
<a href="{{ product.url }}">{{ product.title }}</a>
</h3>
<div class="product-card__price" aria-label="{{ 'products.price_label' | t: price: product.price | money }}">
{{ product.price | money }}
</div>
<button
class="product-card__quick-add"
tabindex="-1"
aria-label="{{ 'products.quick_add' | t: title: product.title }}"
>
{{ 'products.add_to_cart' | t }}
</button>
</article>
```
**Rules:**
- Single tab stop per card (the main link)
- `tabindex="-1"` on mouse-only shortcuts (quick add)
- `aria-labelledby` on `<article>` pointing to the title
- Descriptive alt text on images; empty `alt=""` if decorative
### Carousel
```html
<div
role="region"
aria-roledescription="carousel"
aria-label="{{ section.settings.heading | escape }}"
>
<div class="carousel__controls">
<button
aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.previous_slide' | t }}"
aria-controls="CarouselSlides-{{ section.id }}"
>{% render 'icon-chevron-left' %}</button>
<button
aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.next_slide' | t }}"
aria-controls="CarouselSlides-{{ section.id }}"
>{% render 'icon-chevron-right' %}</button>
<button
aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.pause_slideshow' | t }}"
aria-pressed="false"
>{% render 'icon-pause' %}</button>
</div>
<div id="CarouselSlides-{{ section.id }}" aria-live="polite">
{% for slide in section.blocks %}
<div
role="group"
aria-roledescription="slide"
aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.slide_n_of_total' | t: n: forloop.index, total: forloop.length }}"
{% unless forloop.first %}aria-hidden="true"{% endunless %}
>
{{ slide.settings.content }}
</div>
{% endfor %}
</div>
</div>
```
**Rules:**
- Auto-rotation minimum 5 seconds, pause on hover/focus
- Play/pause button required for auto-rotating carousels
- `aria-live="polite"` on slide container (set to `"off"` during auto-rotation)
- `aria-hidden="true"` on inactive slides
- Each slide: `role="group"` + `aria-roledescription="slide"`
### Modal
```html
<dialog
id="Modal-{{ section.id }}"
aria-labelledby="ModalTitle-{{ section.id }}"
aria-modal="true"
>
<div class="modal__header">
<h2 id="ModalTitle-{{ section.id }}">{{ title }}</h2>
<button
type="button"
aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.close' | t }}"
on:click="/closeModal"
>{% render 'icon-close' %}</button>
</div>
<div class="modal__content">
<!-- Content -->
</div>
</dialog>
```
**Rules:**
- Use native `<dialog>` element
- `aria-labelledby` pointing to the title
- Close on Escape key (native with `<dialog>`)
- Focus first interactive element on open
- Return focus to trigger on close
### Cart Drawer
Same as modal pattern but with additional:
- Live region for cart count updates: `<span aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">`
- Clear "remove item" buttons with `aria-label="{{ 'cart.remove_item' | t: title: item.title }}"`
- Quantity inputs with associated labels
### Forms
```html
<form action="{{ routes.cart_url }}" method="post">
<div class="form__field">
<label for="Email-{{ section.id }}">{{ 'forms.email' | t }}</label>
<input
type="email"
id="Email-{{ section.id }}"
name="email"
required
aria-required="true"
autocomplete="email"
aria-describedby="EmailError-{{ section.id }}"
>
<p
id="EmailError-{{ section.id }}"
class="form__error"
role="alert"
hidden
>{{ 'forms.email_required' | t }}</p>
</div>
</form>
```
**Rules:**
- Every input has a visible `<label>` with matching `for`/`id`
- Use `<fieldset>/<legend>` for radio/checkbox groups
- Error messages: `role="alert"` + `aria-describedby` linking to input
- `aria-invalid="true"` on invalid inputs
- `autocomplete` attributes on common fields
- Required fields: `required` + `aria-required="true"` + visual indicator
### Product Filters
```html
<form class="facets">
<div class="facets__group">
<button
type="button"
aria-expanded="false"
aria-controls="FilterColor-{{ section.id }}"
>{{ 'filters.color' | t }}</button>
<fieldset id="FilterColor-{{ section.id }}" hidden>
<legend class="visually-hidden">{{ 'filters.filter_by_color' | t }}</legend>
{% for color in colors %}
<label>
<input type="checkbox" name="filter.color" value="{{ color }}">
{{ color }}
</label>
{% endfor %}
</fieldset>
</div>
<div aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
{{ 'filters.results_count' | t: count: results.size }}
</div>
</form>
```
### Price Display
```html
{% if product.compare_at_price > product.price %}
<div class="price" aria-label="{{ 'products.sale_price_label' | t: sale_price: product.price | money, original_price: product.compare_at_price | money }}">
<s aria-hidden="true">{{ product.compare_at_price | money }}</s>
<span>{{ product.price | money }}</span>
</div>
{% else %}
<div class="price">{{ product.price | money }}</div>
{% endif %}
```
- Use `aria-label` to provide full price context (sale vs. original)
- `aria-hidden="true"` on the visual strikethrough to avoid duplicate reading
### Accordion
```html
<details>
<summary>{{ block.settings.heading }}</summary>
<div class="accordion__content">
{{ block.settings.content }}
</div>
</details>
```
Native `<details>/<summary>` provides keyboard and screen reader support automatically.
### Tabs
```html
<div role="tablist" aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.product_tabs' | t }}">
{% for tab in tabs %}
<button
role="tab"
id="Tab-{{ tab.id }}"
aria-selected="{% if forloop.first %}true{% else %}false{% endif %}"
aria-controls="Panel-{{ tab.id }}"
tabindex="{% if forloop.first %}0{% else %}-1{% endif %}"
>{{ tab.title }}</button>
{% endfor %}
</div>
{% for tab in tabs %}
<div
role="tabpanel"
id="Panel-{{ tab.id }}"
aria-labelledby="Tab-{{ tab.id }}"
{% unless forloop.first %}hidden{% endunless %}
tabindex="0"
>{{ tab.content }}</div>
{% endfor %}
```
- Arrow keys navigate between tabs (left/right)
- Only active tab has `tabindex="0"`, others `-1`
### Dropdown Navigation
```html
<nav aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.main_navigation' | t }}">
<ul role="list">
{% for link in linklists.main-menu.links %}
<li>
{% if link.links.size > 0 %}
<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="Submenu-{{ forloop.index }}">
{{ link.title }}
</button>
<ul id="Submenu-{{ forloop.index }}" hidden role="list">
{% for child in link.links %}
<li><a href="{{ child.url }}">{{ child.title }}</a></li>
{% endfor %}
</ul>
{% else %}
<a href="{{ link.url }}">{{ link.title }}</a>
{% endif %}
</li>
{% endfor %}
</ul>
</nav>
```
### Tooltip
```html
<button aria-describedby="Tooltip-{{ block.id }}">
{{ 'labels.info' | t }}
</button>
<div id="Tooltip-{{ block.id }}" role="tooltip" popover>
{{ block.settings.tooltip_text }}
</div>
```
## Mobile Accessibility
- **Touch targets:** minimum 44x44px, 8px spacing between targets
- **No orientation lock:** never restrict to portrait/landscape
- **No hover-only content:** everything accessible via tap
- Use `dvh` instead of `vh` for mobile viewport units
## Animation & Motion
```css
/* Always provide reduced motion */
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
*, *::before, *::after {
animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
scroll-behavior: auto !important;
}
}
```
- No flashing above 3 times per second
- Auto-playing animations need pause/stop controls
- Meaningful animations only — don't animate for decoration
## Visually Hidden Utility
```css
.visually-hidden {
position: absolute;
width: 1px;
height: 1px;
padding: 0;
margin: -1px;
overflow: hidden;
clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
white-space: nowrap;
border: 0;
}
```
Use for screen-reader-only content like labels and descriptions.
## Color Contrast
| Element | Minimum Ratio |
|---------|---------------|
| Normal text (<18px / <14px bold) | 4.5:1 |
| Large text (≥18px / ≥14px bold) | 3:1 |
| UI components & graphics | 3:1 |
| Focus indicators | 3:1 |
Never rely solely on color to convey information — always pair with text, icons, or patterns.
## References
- [Component accessibility patterns](references/component-patterns.md)
- [Focus and keyboard patterns](references/focus-and-keyboard.md)
Creator's repository · benjaminsehl/liquid-skills