Max Design articles Browser internals, accessibility, ARIA, HTML and CSS articles https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/ en-au Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 https://www.maxdesign.com.au/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png Max Design articles https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/ What is palpable content? https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/what-is-palpable-content.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/what-is-palpable-content.html Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A practical guide to understanding palpable content in HTML, including a simple three-gate checking method and examples of where palpable content and usability differ. A practical guide to understanding palpable content in HTML, including a simple three-gate checking method and examples of where palpable content and usability differ.

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]]> What are form controls? https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/what-are-form-controls.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/what-are-form-controls.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A practical definition of form controls, including which HTML elements count as form controls, which do not, and examples of each control type. A practical definition of form controls, including which HTML elements count as form controls, which do not, and examples of each control type.

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]]> Do screen readers actually read the screen? https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/do-screen-readers-read-screen.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/do-screen-readers-read-screen.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A quick explanation of how browsers expose accessibility information to screen readers, and how changes ultimately become spoken announcements. A quick explanation of how browsers expose accessibility information to screen readers, and how changes ultimately become spoken announcements.

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]]> Simple steps for declaring a dark mode colour scheme https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/dark-mode-theme.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/dark-mode-theme.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:10:30 +1000 Russ Weakley CSS Accessibility Simple steps for setting up a dark mode colour scheme using color-scheme, prefers-color-scheme, light-dark() and theme-color. Simple steps for setting up a dark mode colour scheme using color-scheme, prefers-color-scheme, light-dark() and theme-color.

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]]> Dark mode checklist https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/dark-mode-checklist.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/dark-mode-checklist.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley CSS Accessibility A practical checklist for designing, developing and testing dark mode, including colour choices, contrast, images, CSS colour schemes, toggles and forced colours. A practical checklist for designing, developing and testing dark mode, including colour choices, contrast, images, CSS colour schemes, toggles and forced colours.

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]]> Understanding readonly and aria-readonly https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-readonly-readonly-explained.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-readonly-readonly-explained.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility The readonly and aria-readonly attributes both communicate that a value cannot be changed, but only one of them changes behaviour. The readonly and aria-readonly attributes both communicate that a value cannot be changed, but only one of them changes behaviour.

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]]> Understanding aria-controls https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-controls-explained.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-controls-explained.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A plain-English explainer on aria-controls: what it does, when it is useful, and current support. A plain-English explainer on aria-controls: what it does, when it is useful, and current support.

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]]> Understanding aria-haspopup https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-haspopup-explained.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-haspopup-explained.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A plain-English explainer on aria-haspopup: what it does and the seven values it can take. A plain-English explainer on aria-haspopup: what it does and the seven values it can take.

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]]> Understanding aria-current https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-current-explained.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-current-explained.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A plain-English explainer on aria-current: what it does and the seven values it can take. A plain-English explainer on aria-current: what it does and the seven values it can take.

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]]> Understanding aria-posinset and aria-setsize https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-posinset-aria-setsize-explained.html https://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/aria-posinset-aria-setsize-explained.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:30 +1000 Russ Weakley HTML Accessibility A plain-English explainer on aria-posinset and aria-setsize: what they do, which roles support them, and when you actually need them. A plain-English explainer on aria-posinset and aria-setsize: what they do, which roles support them, and when you actually need them.

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