Lists

Lists provide structure to a group of items. Items may be ordered (a numbered list) or unordered (a bulleted list). Listing items help readers track information while reading. A suitably formatted list will also allow people using screen readers to:

• Distinguish between an ordered and unordered list
• Know how many items are on the list
• Navigate between list items
• Skip a list altogether

Avoid using Enter to create multiple paragraphs within a list. "Hard returns" can break the list formatting into multiple lists, which may cause screen readers to convey list information incorrectly. Instead, use a "soft return" by pressing Shift+Enter to create a new line within the same list item.

Accessible lists are more than just plain text. They are formatted with styles or code, depending on your authoring tool. See related techniques for details.