aster.cloud aster.cloud
  • /
  • Platforms
    • Public Cloud
    • On-Premise
    • Hybrid Cloud
    • Data
  • Architecture
    • Design
    • Solutions
    • Enterprise
  • Engineering
    • Automation
    • Software Engineering
    • Project Management
    • DevOps
  • Programming
    • Learning
  • Tools
  • About
  • /
  • Platforms
    • Public Cloud
    • On-Premise
    • Hybrid Cloud
    • Data
  • Architecture
    • Design
    • Solutions
    • Enterprise
  • Engineering
    • Automation
    • Software Engineering
    • Project Management
    • DevOps
  • Programming
    • Learning
  • Tools
  • About
aster.cloud aster.cloud
  • /
  • Platforms
    • Public Cloud
    • On-Premise
    • Hybrid Cloud
    • Data
  • Architecture
    • Design
    • Solutions
    • Enterprise
  • Engineering
    • Automation
    • Software Engineering
    • Project Management
    • DevOps
  • Programming
    • Learning
  • Tools
  • About
  • Engineering
  • Software Engineering

The Latest Accessibility Updates In The Maps JavaScript API

  • aster.cloud
  • July 5, 2022
  • 3 minute read

In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day last month, I wanted to provide a follow-up to last year’s work and share more recent updates to improve accessibility in the Maps JavaScript API and Maps Embed API.

Our work since last year has continued to focus on some fundamental improvements in the Embed API, including ‘tab’ order, keyboard and screen reader interactivity, adding accessibility labels, and increasing color contrast of various map controls. These updates enable more inclusive Maps for vision-impaired users, along with anyone using a screen reader or keyboard navigation. Here’s a deeper look at a few of the improvements we’ve been able to achieve.


Partner with aster.cloud
for your next big idea.
Let us know here.



From our partners:

CITI.IO :: Business. Institutions. Society. Global Political Economy.
CYBERPOGO.COM :: For the Arts, Sciences, and Technology.
DADAHACKS.COM :: Parenting For The Rest Of Us.
ZEDISTA.COM :: Entertainment. Sports. Culture. Escape.
TAKUMAKU.COM :: For The Hearth And Home.
ASTER.CLOUD :: From The Cloud And Beyond.
LIWAIWAI.COM :: Intelligence, Inside and Outside.
GLOBALCLOUDPLATFORMS.COM :: For The World's Computing Needs.
FIREGULAMAN.COM :: For The Fire In The Belly Of The Coder.
ASTERCASTER.COM :: Supra Astra. Beyond The Stars.
BARTDAY.COM :: Prosperity For Everyone.

Tab order is left-to-right and top-to-bottom, the spacebar does activate buttons, and color contrast is better.

 

UI visibility in high contrast mode

We also improved maps in high color contrast mode to help make some buttons and checkboxes easier to see and more visible. We implemented this by making changes to the CSS in our codebase to help adapt the map to high contrast scenarios.

 

 

 

Buttons and checkboxes are visible in the high contrast mode.

InfoWindow improvements

Moreover, we continued adding improvements to one of the most-used UI components on maps: InfoWindow. Developers now have the ability to set an accessibility label and programmatically set focus on InfoWindows when they become visible.

 

const infoWindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  ariaLabel: 'Hello Accessibility',
  content: '<h2>Hello Accessibility!</h2>',
});

infoWindow.addListener('visible', () => {
  infoWindow.focus();
});

infoWindow.open({
  anchor: marker,
  shouldFocus: false,
});
Providing an accessibility label for an InfoWindow and programmatically setting focus on it when it becomes visible.

 

Screen reader support for markers

And finally, we added screen reader instructions for markers keyboard navigation. This is especially useful for first-time users who don’t know upfront how to navigate through interactive markers (those who have a registered click event listener) using a keyboard. See our “Make a marker accessible” guide and “Marker Accessibility” code sample to learn about how to make markers more accessible.

Read More  A Migration Story: How NCR & Opus Delivered Card Management To Google Cloud

 

Screen reader instructions for markers keyboard navigation.

 

Help us improve accessibility

We hope you will try out these new improvements, give us feedback on the changes, and file new bugs to help us prioritize the areas that will have the most impact. Please +1 existing bugs that impact your websites and file new bug reports.

Accessibility is a complex topic that affects many different people and communities in a variety of ways, and we rely on your feedback to help guide our efforts to make Google Maps Platform features more accessible for everyone. Please also stay informed to get up-to-date information about accessibility features and improvements in the Maps JavaScript and Embed APIs.

 

What’s Next

Every day across the web, millions of people around the world use the Google Maps basemap provided by the Maps JavaScript API. Our goal is to give developers the tools they need to ensure the map is built for everyone.

We plan to continue making accessibility improvements to the Maps JavaScript and Embed UIs and APIs, and we know that we still have much more work to do. You can track the progress of the Maps JavaScript and Embed APIs on our Release Notes page.

For more information on Google Maps Platform, visit our website.

By: Aleh Medzviadziuk (Software Engineer, Maps JavaScript API)

Source: Google Cloud Blog


For enquiries, product placements, sponsorships, and collaborations, connect with us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Our humans need coffee too! Your support is highly appreciated, thank you!

aster.cloud

Related Topics
  • Google Cloud
  • Google Maps Platform
  • javascript
  • Maps JavaScript API
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Engineering

Just make it scale: An Aurora DSQL story

  • May 29, 2025
View Post
  • Engineering
  • Technology

Guide: Our top four AI Hypercomputer use cases, reference architectures and tutorials

  • March 9, 2025
View Post
  • Software Engineering
  • Technology

Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Claude Code

  • February 25, 2025
View Post
  • Computing
  • Engineering

Why a decades old architecture decision is impeding the power of AI computing

  • February 19, 2025
View Post
  • Engineering
  • Software Engineering

This Month in Julia World

  • January 17, 2025
View Post
  • Engineering
  • Software Engineering

Google Summer of Code 2025 is here!

  • January 17, 2025
View Post
  • Data
  • Engineering

Hiding in Plain Site: Attackers Sneaking Malware into Images on Websites

  • January 16, 2025
View Post
  • Computing
  • Design
  • Engineering
  • Technology

Here’s why it’s important to build long-term cryptographic resilience

  • December 24, 2024

Stay Connected!
LATEST
  • 1
    Just make it scale: An Aurora DSQL story
    • May 29, 2025
  • 2
    Reliance on US tech providers is making IT leaders skittish
    • May 28, 2025
  • Examine the 4 types of edge computing, with examples
    • May 28, 2025
  • AI and private cloud: 2 lessons from Dell Tech World 2025
    • May 28, 2025
  • 5
    TD Synnex named as UK distributor for Cohesity
    • May 28, 2025
  • Weigh these 6 enterprise advantages of storage as a service
    • May 28, 2025
  • 7
    Broadcom’s ‘harsh’ VMware contracts are costing customers up to 1,500% more
    • May 28, 2025
  • 8
    Pulsant targets partner diversity with new IaaS solution
    • May 23, 2025
  • 9
    Growing AI workloads are causing hybrid cloud headaches
    • May 23, 2025
  • Gemma 3n 10
    Announcing Gemma 3n preview: powerful, efficient, mobile-first AI
    • May 22, 2025
about
Hello World!

We are aster.cloud. We’re created by programmers for programmers.

Our site aims to provide guides, programming tips, reviews, and interesting materials for tech people and those who want to learn in general.

We would like to hear from you.

If you have any feedback, enquiries, or sponsorship request, kindly reach out to us at:

[email protected]
Most Popular
  • Understand how Windows Server 2025 PAYG licensing works
    • May 20, 2025
  • By the numbers: How upskilling fills the IT skills gap
    • May 21, 2025
  • 3
    Cloud adoption isn’t all it’s cut out to be as enterprises report growing dissatisfaction
    • May 15, 2025
  • 4
    Hybrid cloud is complicated – Red Hat’s new AI assistant wants to solve that
    • May 20, 2025
  • 5
    Google is getting serious on cloud sovereignty
    • May 22, 2025
  • /
  • Technology
  • Tools
  • About
  • Contact Us

Input your search keywords and press Enter.