Accessibility glossary

Screen reader

Software that converts on-screen content into speech or braille so blind and low-vision people can use a computer.

Screen readers announce text, headings, links, form fields, and the names/roles/states of controls, and let users navigate by structure. They rely on accessible, semantic markup to work well.

Common ones: NVDA (free, Windows), VoiceOver (Apple), JAWS (Windows), and TalkBack (Android).

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

What does Screen reader mean?
Software that converts on-screen content into speech or braille so blind and low-vision people can use a computer.

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