BFSG / EAA / WCAG glossary
Screen reader
Assistive software (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack) that reads a page aloud or to a braille display.
A screen reader converts on-screen content into speech or braille so blind and low-vision users can operate a site. Common ones are NVDA and JAWS (Windows), VoiceOver (Apple) and TalkBack (Android).
Most WCAG requirements exist to make content work for screen readers — accessible names, correct headings, labelled fields. Automated checks can flag missing names, but only manual screen-reader testing confirms the real experience.
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