• June 1, 2025

Title: Avoid Using Deprecated ARIA Roles for Better Accessibility

Rule ID: aria-deprecated-role
Ruleset: axe-core 4.10
User Impact: Minor
Guidelines: WCAG 2.1 (A), WCAG 2.0 (A), WCAG 2.2 (A), EN 301 549

How to Fix the Problem

Make sure that any role="" attribute you use corresponds to a valid, non-deprecated ARIA role. Deprecated ARIA roles are no longer recommended because assistive technologies may ignore them or behave inconsistently. This can result in a degraded experience for users relying on screen readers or other assistive tools.

Here are common deprecated roles and what you can use instead:

• directory: Replace with one of the following depending on your structure:

  • <section> – for grouping thematic content.

  • <ul> or <ol> with role="list" – for itemized content.

  • role="tree" – if the directory is hierarchical and interactive.

Best Practices:

• Regularly consult the latest WAI-ARIA specifications to confirm whether a role is deprecated.

• Use semantic HTML whenever possible. Native elements often convey the same meaning as ARIA roles, but with better browser and assistive technology support.

• Avoid abstract roles entirely. These are not meant to be used in markup but instead serve as a classification framework within ARIA itself.

Why it Matters

Deprecated ARIA roles are no longer supported or recommended in the latest accessibility specifications. When these roles are used:

• Assistive technologies like screen readers may not interpret them correctly, leading to a poor user experience.

• Navigation and interaction can become confusing or unusable for users with disabilities.

• Compliance risks increase, particularly under WCAG and EN 301 549 requirements, which aim to ensure equitable access.

Maintaining up-to-date, supported ARIA roles ensures your content is usable for the widest possible audience.

Rule Description

ARIA role attributes must be current and non-deprecated. Deprecated roles may still render visually, but they offer no reliable accessibility support and should not be used in production environments.

The Algorithm (in Simple Terms)

1. Look through your HTML for elements that use the role="" attribute.

2. Cross-check each role value against the current WAI-ARIA role specification.

3. Flag any roles that are listed as “deprecated” or “abstract.”

4. Replace deprecated roles with suitable modern equivalents based on intended functionality.