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How do we add the aria tag within Sharepoint 2016?

Larry Lentz 20 Reputation points
2026-04-01T17:22:30.0066667+00:00

Given the current WCAG requirements, I wanted to clarify how we can add the ARIA tag within the SharePoint CMS. I had assumed Microsoft would have included it in the attributes panel by now, but without backend access, is it possible to add this tag through the attribute panel? Additionally, what alternative approaches have others found to support implementing this tag effectively?

Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint Server | Development
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Dora-T 13,745 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-04-02T01:06:24.1766667+00:00

Hi Larry Lentz

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Based on my research and understanding, SharePoint Server 2016 does not allow ARIA attributes to be added through the page editing interface or any attributes panel. ARIA attributes can only be added in the code that builds the page, such as:

  • Page templates (master pages or page layouts)
  • Custom web parts or components

In some environments, ARIA attributes may be added using custom scripts or injected HTML, but this requires the appropriate permissions and customization access and is not available to standard content authors.

If you do not have backend or development access, adding ARIA attributes directly through the SharePoint UI is generally not possible. For ARIA‑specific accessibility requirements, the typical and supported approach is to work with a SharePoint administrator or developer who can implement these changes at the template or component level.

You may also refer to the Q&A Assist response below, which provides additional background on how ARIA is typically implemented in SharePoint.

I hope this helps.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-04-01T17:22:43.36+00:00

    ARIA attributes in SharePoint 2016 are added the same way as in any other HTML-based site: by editing the underlying markup of page layouts, master pages, or custom controls. The provided information does not describe an “ARIA tag” option in any SharePoint 2016 attributes panel, and no mechanism is documented to inject ARIA purely through a CMS-side attributes UI without touching markup.

    Instead, accessibility guidance for SharePoint focuses on:

    • Using standard, semantic HTML elements that map correctly to Microsoft UI Automation and assistive technologies in supported browsers. For web content, assistive technologies interact with the DOM and UI Automation; many HTML elements are already mapped to accessibility objects and properties, so choosing the correct element often removes the need for extra ARIA.
    • Following WCAG 2.0/2.1 and WAI-ARIA best practices when customizing SharePoint sites, page layouts, and templates, treating SharePoint pages as regular websites.

    Given that:

    1. To introduce ARIA roles, states, and properties in SharePoint 2016, customizations must be done where HTML is defined (for example, custom master pages, page layouts, or script-based components) rather than via a generic attributes panel.
    2. Alternative approaches recommended for accessibility in SharePoint environments are:
      • Prefer semantic HTML elements that already expose the correct accessibility information to UI Automation and assistive technologies.
      • Use WAI-ARIA only to fill gaps where semantic HTML cannot express the required behavior.
      • Design and test customizations against WCAG guidance and common accessibility resources such as WCAG and WebAIM.

    No additional SharePoint-2016-specific ARIA injection mechanism is described beyond standard web development practices on the underlying markup.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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