accessibility

When adding a new interactive UI surface to VS Code — a panel, view, widget, editor overlay, dialog, or any rich focusable component the user interacts with — you must provide three accessibility components (if they do not already exist for the feature):

1. An Accessibility Help Dialog — opened via the accessibility help keybinding when the feature has focus.
2. An Accessible View — a plain-text read-only editor that presents the feature's content to screen reader users (when the feature displays non-trivial visual content).
3. An Accessibility Verbosity Setting — a boolean setting that controls whether the "open accessibility help" hint is announced.

Examples of existing features that have all three: the terminal, chat panel, notebook, diff editor, inline completions, comments, debug REPL, hover, and notifications. Features with only a help dialog (no accessible view) include find widgets, source control input, keybindings editor, problems panel, and walkthroughs.

Sections 4–7 below (signals, ARIA announcements, keyboard navigation, ARIA labels) apply more broadly to any UI change, including modifications to existing features.

When updating an existing feature — for example, adding new commands, keyboard shortcuts, or interactive capabilities — you must also update the feature's existing accessibility help dialog (provideContent()) to document the new functionality. Screen reader users rely on the help dialog as the primary way to discover available actions.

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1. Accessibility Help Dialog

An accessibility help dialog tells the user what the feature does, which keyboard shortcuts are available, and how to interact with it via a screen reader.

Steps

1. Create a class implementing IAccessibleViewImplementation with type = AccessibleViewType.Help.

   • Set a priority (higher = shown first when multiple providers match).
   • Set when to a ContextKeyExpression that matches when the feature is focused.
   • getProvider(accessor) returns an AccessibleContentProvider.

2. Create a content-provider class implementing IAccessibleViewContentProvider.

   • id — add a new entry in the AccessibleViewProviderId enum in src/vs/platform/accessibility/browser/accessibleView.ts.
   • verbositySettingKey — reference the new AccessibilityVerbositySettingId entry (see §3).
   • options — { type: AccessibleViewType.Help }.
   • provideContent() — return localized, multi-line help text.

3. Implement onClose() to restore focus to whatever element was focused before the help dialog opened. This ensures keyboard users and screen reader users return to their previous context.

4. Register the implementation:

   AccessibleViewRegistry.register(new MyFeatureAccessibilityHelp());
   

   in the feature's *.contribution.ts file.

Example skeleton

The simplest approach is to return an AccessibleContentProvider directly from getProvider(). This is the most common pattern in the codebase (used by chat, inline chat, quick chat, etc.):

import { AccessibleViewType, AccessibleContentProvider, AccessibleViewProviderId } from '…/accessibleView.js';
import { IAccessibleViewImplementation } from '…/accessibleViewRegistry.js';
import { AccessibilityVerbositySettingId } from '…/accessibilityConfiguration.js';
import { AccessibleViewType, AccessibleContentProvider, AccessibleViewProviderId, IAccessibleViewContentProvider, IAccessibleViewOptions } from '../../../../platform/accessibility/browser/accessibleView.js';
import { IAccessibleViewImplementation } from '../../../../platform/accessibility/browser/accessibleViewRegistry.js';
import { AccessibilityVerbositySettingId } from '../../../../platform/accessibility/common/accessibilityConfiguration.js';

export class MyFeatureAccessibilityHelp implements IAccessibleViewImplementation {
	readonly priority = 100;
	readonly name = 'my-feature';
	readonly type = AccessibleViewType.Help;
	readonly when = MyFeatureContextKeys.isFocused;

	getProvider(accessor: ServicesAccessor) {
		const helpText = [
			localize('myFeature.help.overview', "You are in My Feature. …"),
			localize('myFeature.help.key1', "- {0}: Do something", '<keybinding:myFeature.doSomething>'),
		].join('\n');
		return new AccessibleContentProvider(
			AccessibleViewProviderId.MyFeature,
			{ type: AccessibleViewType.Help },
			() => helpText,
			() => { /* onClose — refocus whatever was focused before */ },
			AccessibilityVerbositySettingId.MyFeature,
		);
	}
}

Alternatively, if the provider needs injected services or must track state (e.g., storing a reference to the previously focused element), create a custom class that extends Disposable and implements IAccessibleViewContentProvider, then instantiate it via IInstantiationService (see CommentsAccessibilityHelpProvider for an example):

class MyFeatureAccessibilityHelpProvider extends Disposable implements IAccessibleViewContentProvider {
	readonly id = AccessibleViewProviderId.MyFeature;
	readonly verbositySettingKey = AccessibilityVerbositySettingId.MyFeature;
	readonly options: IAccessibleViewOptions = { type: AccessibleViewType.Help };

	provideContent(): string { /* … */ }
	onClose(): void { /* … */ }
}

// In getProvider():
getProvider(accessor: ServicesAccessor) {
	return accessor.get(IInstantiationService).createInstance(MyFeatureAccessibilityHelpProvider);
}

---

2. Accessible View

An accessible view presents the feature's visual content as plain text in a read-only editor. It is required when the feature renders rich or visual content that a screen reader cannot directly read (for example: chat responses, hover tooltips, notifications, terminal output, inline completions).

If the feature is purely keyboard-driven with native text input/output (e.g., a simple input field), an accessible view is not needed — only an accessibility help dialog is required.

Steps

1. Create a class implementing IAccessibleViewImplementation with type = AccessibleViewType.View.
2. Create a content-provider similar to the help dialog, but:
   • options — { type: AccessibleViewType.View }, optionally with a language for syntax highlighting.
   • provideContent() — return the feature's current content as plain text.
   • Optionally implement provideNextContent() / providePreviousContent() for item-by-item navigation.
   • Implement onClose() to restore focus to whatever was focused before the accessible view was opened.
   • Optionally provide actions for actions the user can take from the accessible view.
3. Register alongside the help dialog:

   AccessibleViewRegistry.register(new MyFeatureAccessibleView());
   

Example skeleton

export class MyFeatureAccessibleView implements IAccessibleViewImplementation {
	readonly priority = 100;
	readonly name = 'my-feature';
	readonly type = AccessibleViewType.View;
	readonly when = MyFeatureContextKeys.isFocused;

	getProvider(accessor: ServicesAccessor) {
		// Retrieve services, build content from the feature's current state
		const content = getMyFeatureContent();
		if (!content) {
			return undefined;
		}
		return new AccessibleContentProvider(
			AccessibleViewProviderId.MyFeature,
			{ type: AccessibleViewType.View },
			() => content,
			() => { /* onClose — refocus whatever was focused before the accessible view opened */ },
			AccessibilityVerbositySettingId.MyFeature,
		);
	}
}

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3. Accessibility Verbosity Setting

A verbosity setting controls whether a hint such as "press Alt+F1 for accessibility help" is announced when the feature gains focus. Users who already know the shortcut can disable it.

Steps

1. Add an entry to AccessibilityVerbositySettingId in src/vs/workbench/contrib/accessibility/browser/accessibilityConfiguration.ts:

   export const enum AccessibilityVerbositySettingId {
       // … existing entries …
       MyFeature = 'accessibility.verbosity.myFeature'
   }
   

2. Register the configuration property in the same file's configuration.properties object:

   [AccessibilityVerbositySettingId.MyFeature]: {
       description: localize('verbosity.myFeature.description',
           'Provide information about how to access the My Feature accessibility help menu when My Feature is focused.'),
       ...baseVerbosityProperty
   },
   

   The baseVerbosityProperty gives it type: 'boolean', default: true, and tags: ['accessibility'].

3. Reference the setting key in both the help-dialog provider (verbositySettingKey) and the accessible-view provider so the runtime can check whether to show the hint.

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4. Accessibility Signals (Sounds & Announcements)

Accessibility signals provide audible and spoken feedback for events that happen visually. Use IAccessibilitySignalService to play signals when something important occurs (e.g., an error appears, a task completes, content changes).

When to use

• Use an existing signal when the event already has one defined (see AccessibilitySignal.* static members — e.g., AccessibilitySignal.error, AccessibilitySignal.terminalQuickFix, AccessibilitySignal.clear).
• If no existing signal fits, reach out to @meganrogge to discuss adding a new one. Do not register new signals without coordinating first.

How signals work

Each signal has two modalities controlled by user settings:

• Sound — a short audio cue, configurable to auto (on when screen reader attached), on, or off.
• Announcement — a spoken message via aria-live, configurable to auto or off.

Usage

// Inject the service via constructor parameter
constructor(
	@IAccessibilitySignalService private readonly _accessibilitySignalService: IAccessibilitySignalService
) { }

// Play a signal
this._accessibilitySignalService.playSignal(AccessibilitySignal.terminalQuickFix);

// Play with options
this._accessibilitySignalService.playSignal(AccessibilitySignal.error, { userGesture: true });

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5. ARIA Alerts vs. Status Messages

Use the alert() and status() functions from src/vs/base/browser/ui/aria/aria.ts to announce dynamic changes to screen readers.

alert(msg) — Assertive live region (role="alert")

• Use for: Urgent, important information that the user must know immediately.
• Examples: Errors, warnings, critical state changes, results of a user-initiated action.
• Behavior: Interrupts the screen reader's current speech.

status(msg) — Polite live region (aria-live="polite")

• Use for: Non-urgent, informational updates that should be spoken when the screen reader is idle.
• Examples: Progress updates, search result counts, background state changes.
• Behavior: Queued and spoken after the screen reader finishes its current output.

Guidelines

• Prefer status() over alert() unless the information is time-sensitive or the result of a direct user action. Overusing alert() creates a noisy, disruptive experience.
• Keep messages concise. Screen readers read the entire message; long messages delay the user.
• Do not duplicate — if an accessibility signal already announces the event, do not also call alert() / status() for the same information.
• Localize all messages with nls.localize().

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6. Keyboard Navigation

Every interactive UI element must be fully operable via the keyboard.

Requirements

• Tab order: All interactive elements must be reachable via Tab / Shift+Tab in a logical order.
• Arrow key navigation: Lists, trees, grids, and toolbars must support arrow key navigation following WAI-ARIA patterns.
• Focus visibility: Focused elements must have a visible focus indicator (VS Code's theme system provides this via focusBorder).
• No mouse-only interactions: Every action reachable by click or hover must also be reachable via keyboard (context menus, buttons, toggles, etc.).
• Escape to dismiss: Overlays, dialogs, and popups must be dismissable with Escape, returning focus to the previous element.
• Focus trapping: Modal dialogs must trap focus within the dialog until dismissed.

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7. ARIA Labels and Roles

All interactive UI elements must have appropriate ARIA attributes so screen readers can identify and describe them.

Requirements

• aria-label: Every interactive element without visible text (icon buttons, icon-only actions, custom widgets) must have a descriptive aria-label. Labels should be localized.
• aria-labelledby / aria-describedby: Use these to associate elements with existing visible text rather than duplicating strings.
• role: Custom widgets that do not use native HTML elements must declare the correct ARIA role (e.g., role="button", role="tree", role="tablist").
• aria-expanded, aria-selected, aria-checked: Toggle and selection states must be communicated via the appropriate ARIA state attributes.
• aria-hidden="true": Decorative or redundant elements (icons next to text labels, decorative separators) must be hidden from the accessibility tree.

Guidelines

• Avoid generic labels like "button" or "icon" — describe the action: "Close panel", "Toggle sidebar", "Run task".
• Test with a screen reader (VoiceOver on macOS, NVDA on Windows) to verify labels are spoken correctly in context.
• Lists and trees should use aria-setsize and aria-posinset when virtualized so screen readers report the correct count.

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Checklist for Every New Feature

• New AccessibleViewProviderId entry added in accessibleView.ts
• New AccessibilityVerbositySettingId entry added in accessibilityConfiguration.ts
• Verbosity setting registered in the configuration properties with ...baseVerbosityProperty
• IAccessibleViewImplementation with type = Help created and registered
• Content provider references the correct verbositySettingKey
• Help text is fully localized using nls.localize()
• Keybindings in help text use <keybinding:commandId> syntax for dynamic resolution
• when context key is set so the dialog only appears when the feature is focused
• If the feature has rich/visual content: IAccessibleViewImplementation with type = View created and registered
• Registration calls in the feature's *.contribution.ts file
• Accessibility signal played for important events (use existing AccessibilitySignal.* or register a new one)
• aria.alert() or aria.status() used appropriately for dynamic changes (prefer status() unless urgent)
• All interactive elements reachable and operable via keyboard
• All interactive elements without visible text have a localized aria-label
• Custom widgets declare the correct ARIA role and state attributes
• Decorative elements are hidden with aria-hidden="true"

Key Files

• src/vs/platform/accessibility/browser/accessibleView.ts — AccessibleViewProviderId, AccessibleContentProvider, IAccessibleViewContentProvider
• src/vs/platform/accessibility/browser/accessibleViewRegistry.ts — AccessibleViewRegistry, IAccessibleViewImplementation
• src/vs/workbench/contrib/accessibility/browser/accessibilityConfiguration.ts — AccessibilityVerbositySettingId, verbosity setting registration
• src/vs/platform/accessibilitySignal/browser/accessibilitySignalService.ts — IAccessibilitySignalService, AccessibilitySignal
• src/vs/base/browser/ui/aria/aria.ts — alert(), status() for ARIA live region announcements