How to Create Accessible Charts in React: A Guide to Inclusive Data Visualisation

What is Accessibility in Data Visualisation

Data visualisation is key to communication but can be inaccessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility in data visualisation is crucial to make sure all users, regardless of ability, can understand and interact with charts. Highcharts has the tools and features to create accessible charts and users who rely on screen readers will benefit from proper labeling and annotation.

Choosing the Right Chart Type

Different chart types are for different data and user needs. For example, bar charts are great for categorical data and trends. Choosing the right chart type is key to clear data visualisation. Highcharts has many chart types, including bar charts, line charts and scatter plots so you can pick the best for your data.

Bar Charts for Effective Data Visualisation

Bar charts are particularly useful for showing categorical data and comparing values across multiple categories and subcategories. Highcharts provides extensive customisation options for bar charts, such as adjusting colours, sizes, and labels, making it easier to tailor the charts to specific accessibility needs. Additionally, bar charts can be used to create small multiples, which are effective for displaying multiple data series simultaneously.

Creating Accessible Charts in React with Highcharts

Creating accessible charts means following clear design principles and making sure all visual elements are accessible to all users. Labelling and annotation is key for screen reader users and low vision users. Highcharts allows you to add labels and annotations to charts so users can understand the data. Also consider colour blindness by using high contrast colours and no colour based encoding.

Design Principles

• Simple: Charts should be simple and easy to understand.
• Concise Labelling: Use clear and concise labels and annotations.
• Accessibility Features: Use screen reader support and high contrast colours.

Highcharts has the tools and features to create clear and accessible charts so your visualisations are easy to read for all users.

Labelling and Annotation

Labelling and annotation is key to making charts accessible to screen reader users and low vision users. Highcharts has features for adding labels and annotations so all the information is conveyed clearly. Labels and annotations should be simple and provide enough context for the chart.

Using the Highcharts Library to Build Accessible Charts

Highcharts makes it easy to create accessible charts with many options. Here’s how to create a simple accessible chart in a React application:

Code example:

Install the highcharts and highcharts-react-official packages:

npm install highcharts highcharts-react-official

Create a simple bar chart component:

import React from 'react';
import Highcharts from 'highcharts';
import HighchartsReact from 'highcharts-react-official';
import HighchartsAccessibility from 'highcharts/modules/accessibility';

HighchartsAccessibility(Highcharts);

export const AccessibleChart = () => {
  const options = {
    title: {
      text: 'Accessible chart example'
    },
    series: [
      {
        data: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
      }
    ],
    accessibility: {
      enabled: true,
      description: 'This is an example of an accessible chart.'
    }
  };

  return (
    <HighchartsReact highcharts={Highcharts} options={options} />
  );
};

In this example the HighchartsAccessibility module is imported and initialised to enable accessibility features. The accessibility option in the chart configuration provides descriptions for screen readers.

Chart Design Best Practices

Following chart design best practices is key for accessibility. This means:

• Design with accessibility in mind using screen reader support and high contrast colours.
• Keep charts simple and easy to read with clear and concise labelling and annotation.
• No colour based encoding for colour vision deficient users.

Highcharts has many tools and features to support these practices to create inclusive and accessible charts.

Cognitive Accessibility and Clear Design

Cognitive accessibility means charts are easy to read. Highcharts has features to support cognitive accessibility, like clear labelling and annotation. Charts should be designed simple and clear so all users can read the data.

Collaborations and Resources

Highcharts works with many organizations to make chart accessibility better. The library has extensive documentation and examples so developers can create accessible charts. Support for screen reader users and low vision users is also available so all users can interact with the charts.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Creating accessible charts is key to all users being able to read and interact with your visualisations. Highcharts has the tools and features to do this. By following best practices and using Highcharts developers can create clear and accessible charts.

At Tiny Octopus we make enterprise websites and web applications more accessible and inclusive. We can help you integrate these into your business so all users have a more inclusive digital experience.

Are your charts accessible to everyone?

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