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The term "a11y" is an **abbreviation of the word "accessibility"**.
It replaces the 11 letters between the first **a** and the last **y** with the number 11:

> **a + 11 letters + y → a11y**

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### What "accessibility" means

In web development, **accessibility (a11y)** is the practice of building websites and applications that **all users** can use, including people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive limitations.

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### Example: what a11y includes

1. **Alternative text for images**

```html
  <img src="photo.jpg" alt="Photo of a woman with a laptop">
  ```
-> screen readers can then read the description.
2. **A correct heading structure (**`<h1>-<h6>`**)**
-> helps people with visual impairments navigate a page quickly.
3. **Text and background contrast**
-> so text is easy to read regardless of visual differences.
4. **Keyboard navigation**
-> the ability to use a site without a mouse (for example, with the `Tab` key).
5. **ARIA attributes** (`aria-label`, `role`, and others)
-> add extra semantics for screen readers.

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### Examples of related terms:

- **i18n** - *internationalization* (18 letters between "i" and "n")
- **l10n** - *localization* (10 letters between "l" and "n")
- **a11y** - *accessibility* (11 letters between "a" and "y")

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### Conclusion:

"a11y" is a short form of the word *accessibility* and refers to an area of web development that makes websites **accessible and usable for all users**, including people with disabilities.

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