For most people, navigating a website or a document is a visual experience—scanning for bold text, clicking buttons, and using a mouse to scroll. However, for many users, the digital world is experienced through sound via a screen reader.
While screen readers are essential for individuals who are blind or have low vision, they are also vital tools for people with learning disabilities like dyslexia, those with chronic migraines, or individuals who simply prefer auditory learning. By converting text to high-quality speech, screen readers reduce the cognitive load of decoding words, making information more accessible to a much broader audience.
Understanding how these tools work is the first step in realizing why accessibility best practices—like proper heading structures and alt text—are not just "nice to have," but essential for digital equality.
How Do People Use Screen Readers?
Keyboard Only (No Mouse)
Screen reader users almost never use a mouse. Because a mouse requires "point-and-click" visual coordination, users rely entirely on keyboard shortcuts. They use the Tab key to jump between interactive elements (like links and buttons) and specific command keys to read text line-by-line or paragraph-by-paragraph.
Navigating by Structure (Headings and Links)
A sighted user can glance at a page and immediately identify the different sections thanks to large, bold headings. A screen reader user does this by using a "Heading List" or by pressing the H key to jump from one heading to the next.
Why this matters: If a document doesn't use proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3), the user is forced to listen to the entire page from top to bottom to find the information they need.
The "Link List"
Users often pull up a menu that lists every link on a page. This allows them to navigate quickly to a known destination.
Why this matters: If your links are labeled "Click Here" or "Read More," the user will hear a list that says "Click Here, Click Here, Click Here," providing zero context on where those links actually lead. If you paste a raw URL as a link, a screen reader user is forced to listen to it character by character: h t t p s : / / w w w . and so on.
Image Descriptions (Alt Text)
A screen reader cannot "see" an image. It simply announces "Graphic" or "Image." If the author provides Alternative Text (Alt Text), the screen reader will read that description aloud. Without it, the information within that image is completely lost to the user.
Popular Screen Reading Software
Depending on the device and operating system, users have several options for screen reading software:
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): A free, open-source screen reader for Windows. It is incredibly popular worldwide because it is powerful, customizable, and has no cost barrier.
JAWS (Job Access With Speech): The most widely used professional screen reader for Windows. While it requires a paid license, it is known for its robust features and is often the standard in corporate and educational environments.
VoiceOver: Built directly into Apple products (macOS, iOS, iPadOS). It is unique because it is integrated into the hardware, meaning an iPhone or Mac is accessible right out of the box without installing extra software.
Narrator: The built-in screen reader for Windows. While historically less advanced than JAWS or NVDA, Microsoft has made significant improvements to Narrator in recent years, making it a viable option for basic navigation and setup.
Want to Try It Yourself?
If you are creating, designing, or developing content and tools, the best way to understand accessibility is to experience it. You don't need to be an expert to see how your work holds up.
Using a screen reader for the first time can be confusing! Use this Screen Reader Survival Guide to help with keyboard shortcuts.