NVDA Testing

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) testing uses the free, open-source screen reader for Windows to evaluate accessibility. NVDA is widely used by actual screen reader users, making it essential for comprehensive testing.

What Is NVDA Testing

NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows developed by NV Access. It is one of the most popular screen readers globally due to being free, open-source, and actively maintained.

NVDA testing verifies:

• Content accessibility for Windows screen reader users
• Compatibility with common browser combinations
• Proper ARIA implementation
• Keyboard accessibility for screen reader users
• Dynamic content announcement

NVDA pairs most commonly with Firefox and Chrome, representing significant portions of actual screen reader usage.

How NVDA Testing Works

Installing NVDA:

• Download free from nvaccess.org
• Install or run portable version
• Can run from USB without installation

Basic NVDA commands (Insert or Caps Lock as modifier):

• NVDA + Down Arrow: Start reading from cursor
• NVDA + Up Arrow: Read current line
• Down/Up Arrow: Move by line
• Left/Right Arrow: Move by character
• Tab/Shift+Tab: Move between focusable elements
• Enter: Activate links and buttons
• Space: Activate buttons and checkboxes
• H: Jump to next heading
• Shift+H: Jump to previous heading
• D: Jump to next landmark
• F: Jump to next form field
• NVDA + F7: Elements list (headings, links, etc.)

Browse mode versus focus mode:

• Browse mode: Navigate and read content (default for web)
• Focus mode: Interact with form controls
• NVDA switches automatically in many cases
• NVDA + Space: Manual toggle

Testing workflow:

1. Launch NVDA (Ctrl+Alt+N if running)
2. Open target page in browser
3. Navigate using various methods (headings, landmarks, sequential)
4. Complete key tasks
5. Verify announcements are meaningful
6. Document issues

Key Considerations

• Use NVDA with Firefox or Chrome for testing
• Learn browse mode versus focus mode
• Test navigation by headings, landmarks, and tab order
• Verify form interaction works correctly
• Check dynamic content announcements (live regions)
• Test keyboard shortcuts do not conflict with NVDA
• Document specific announcement issues

Common Questions

How does NVDA compare to JAWS?

NVDA and JAWS are both popular Windows screen readers:

• NVDA: Free, open-source, widely used
• JAWS: Commercial, more features, enterprise presence

Both should be tested for comprehensive coverage. NVDA is sufficient for most testing needs and is preferred by some developers due to being free.

What is browse mode versus focus mode?

Browse mode lets users read and navigate web content with arrow keys. Letter shortcuts (H for headings) work in browse mode.

Focus mode sends keystrokes directly to the page for form interaction. Arrow keys scroll or interact with controls rather than navigating content.

NVDA switches modes automatically when entering form fields but can be toggled manually with NVDA + Space.

How can NVDA verbosity be adjusted?

NVDA’s speech verbosity settings affect how much information is announced. For testing:

• Higher verbosity reveals what NVDA sees
• Lower verbosity matches typical user experience

Access settings via NVDA + N > Preferences > Settings. Consider testing at different verbosity levels.

Summary

NVDA testing uses the free Windows screen reader to evaluate accessibility. Learning essential commands, understanding browse mode versus focus mode, and testing with common browser combinations ensures compatibility for the significant population of Windows screen reader users.