Accessibility API

A set of programming interfaces provided by operating systems that allow assistive technologies and accessibility services to interact with application user interfaces. Accessibility APIs expose information about on-screen elements — their labels, roles, states, and relationships — and provide mechanisms to programmatically interact with them. On Android, the accessibility API enables services like TalkBack (screen reader) and Voice Access to read screen content and simulate user actions. On the web, similar functionality is provided through the accessibility tree built from HTML semantics and ARIA attributes. Proper use of accessibility APIs by app developers is critical because they serve as the foundation not just for screen readers but for voice control, switch access, and other alternative input methods.