ARIA — first rule of ARIA
type: TechArticle
description: ARIA can make custom widgets accessible, but the first rule of ARIA is don't use ARIA. Reach for a native HTML element first; add ARIA only when nothing native fits.
language: en
is part of: Web Specification Studio
author: Web Specification Studio
publisher: Web Specification Studio
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date modified: 2026-05-29T09:13:20.000Z
citation: ARIA Authoring Practices Guide — Read Me First
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C WAI
citation: Using ARIA
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C
citation: MDN — ARIA
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: MDN
citation: WCAG 4.1.2 — Name, Role, Value (Level A)
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C

Web Specification Studio
type: WebSite

Web Specification Studio
type: Organization

breadcrumb
type: BreadcrumbList
item list element: Home
  type: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: https://webspecification.com/
item list element: Spec
  type: ListItem
  position: 2
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/
item list element: Accessibility
  type: ListItem
  position: 3
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/
item list element: ARIA — first rule of ARIA
  type: ListItem
  position: 4
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/aria-usage/