Accessibility-First Code Generation from Figma
Every component CodeFlow Lab generates includes semantic HTML, correct aria attributes, keyboard navigation, and focus management — declared in the IR before a single line of code is written.
Why Accessibility Is Hard for AI Code Generators
Language models know what aria attributes are and can write them correctly in a single component. The problem is consistency across a full application. An accessible heading structure requires knowing the heading levels used in every other component on every page. An accessible focus order requires knowing the DOM order of every component in every route. A language model generating one file at a time has no visibility into the rest of the application.
CodeFlow Lab solves this at the IR level. The accessibility annotation layer in the IR explicitly declares: landmark roles for every section, heading levels (h1–h6) in correct hierarchical order across the application, focus flow for modals and overlays, and aria relationships (aria-labelledby, aria-describedby) between elements that span component boundaries. Code generators read these declarations — they don't infer them independently.
IR accessibility layer
Landmark roles, heading structure, focus flow, and aria relationships are declared in the IR before any code is generated.
Semantic HTML first
Figma auto-layout frames become the correct HTML5 element: nav, main, section, article — not generic divs.
Keyboard navigation
Interactive components include onKeyDown handlers, focus trap patterns, and tab order management by default.
WCAG Criteria Addressed in Generated Code
| WCAG Criterion | How CodeFlow Lab addresses it |
|---|---|
| 1.1.1 Non-text Content | alt attributes on all img elements, generated from Figma layer names |
| 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | Semantic HTML: nav, main, aside, section, article from Figma frame structure |
| 2.1.1 Keyboard | onKeyDown handlers on all custom interactive elements; focus management for modals |
| 2.4.3 Focus Order | DOM order matches visual order from Figma auto-layout structure |
| 3.3.1 Error Identification | aria-describedby linking inputs to error messages in generated forms |
| 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value | aria-label, role, aria-expanded on custom components based on IR behavior declaration |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AI-generated code be WCAG compliant?
Yes, if the code generator has accessibility built into its IR and generation pipeline — not bolted on afterward. CodeFlow Lab declares aria roles, heading structure, focus flow, and color contrast requirements in the IR for every component before generating any code. The result is that accessibility attributes are structurally present in every generated file, not dependent on the generator remembering to add them.
What WCAG criteria does CodeFlow Lab address in generated code?
CodeFlow Lab's generation pipeline addresses: 1.1.1 (Non-text Content — alt attributes on images), 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships — semantic HTML elements), 1.3.5 (Identify Input Purpose — autocomplete attributes on form fields), 2.1.1 (Keyboard — all interactive elements reachable by keyboard), 2.4.3 (Focus Order — logical DOM order for tab navigation), 3.3.1 (Error Identification — error messages associated with inputs via aria-describedby), and 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value — aria-label and role on custom components). Color contrast is flagged in the quality report but requires human verification.
How are aria attributes generated?
Aria attributes are declared in the IR's accessibility annotation layer before code generation. Each component in the IR has assigned landmark roles (main, nav, aside, etc.), heading levels (h1–h6 in structured order), and aria relationships (aria-labelledby, aria-describedby). The code generator emits these as HTML attributes on the correct elements. Custom interactive components receive role, aria-expanded, aria-controls, and aria-selected based on their declared behavior type.
Does CodeFlow generate keyboard navigation?
Yes. Interactive components generated by CodeFlow Lab include keyboard event handlers for Enter/Space activation, Escape dismissal for overlays and dialogs, and arrow key navigation for list-like components such as menus and tabs. Focus management for modal dialogs (focus trap on open, restore on close) is generated using a focus trap pattern. Tab order follows the logical DOM order set by the IR.
How do I verify accessibility in the generated output?
The generation report includes an accessibility annotation summary showing which landmark roles, heading levels, and aria relationships were applied. For automated testing, the generated project includes an axe-core integration comment showing which test runner can be used. Manual testing with a screen reader (NVDA or VoiceOver) and keyboard-only navigation is always recommended before shipping to production.
Does CodeFlow Lab generate accessible forms?
Yes. Form components generated by CodeFlow Lab associate every input with an explicit label element using htmlFor/id pairs (not just placeholder text). Required fields include aria-required='true'. Error messages use aria-describedby to associate with their input. The form as a whole uses role='form' with an accessible name. Password inputs include a show/hide toggle with an appropriate aria-label.