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List Formatting

Properly formatted lists improve readability and are easier for screen reader users to navigate.

Lists can be an effective way to break up dense blocks of text and surface key information for readers. There are several different types of lists, such as:

  • Bulleted lists: Best for cases where the order of items is not important.
  • Numbered lists: Best for cases where the order of items or the total count of items is important.
  • Multilevel lists: Best for cases where the hierarchy of items is important.
  • Description lists: Best for matching terms with their definitions or descriptions.

When we use the right type of list, we can help readers effectively navigate through and better understand our content.

Most computer programs and apps provide formatting features for lists so that you can create lists without needing to manually type in each dash, asterisk, or number. Properly formatted lists look more professional and are easier for you to update. For example, if you realize your bulleted list would actually make more sense as a numbered list, you can change it to a numbered list with just a couple clicks. With a properly formatted list, you can also easily and uniformly adjust indentation and other visual styling.

When you create lists with the built-in formatting tools instead of manually typing dashes or numbers, you create a structure that assistive technologies can recognize. For example, when a screen reader user navigates to a properly structured list, their screen reader will announce how many items are in the list and offer special commands to help easily navigate the list.

What To Do

Use lists where appropriate to help break up information and improve readability.

Avoid using typed characters to create lists.

Create lists using the appropriate formatting features.

Human Impacts

If you don’t use lists where they would be appropriate, people may struggle to find or understand the content they are looking for. This can be particularly hard on people with cognitive disabilities.

Without proper list formatting, screen reader users won’t be able to effectively navigate through your content.

WCAG References

This skill corresponds to the following success criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG):