Accessible name
Also known as: Accessible label
An accessible name is the text a screen reader announces for a control — like a button or field — so the user knows what it does.
In plain terms
A button showing only a magnifying-glass icon has no words for a screen reader to read. You give it an accessible name (for example with aria-label="Search") so it's announced as "Search, button" instead of just "button". For text inputs, a proper <label> supplies the name.
Why it matters
Controls with no accessible name are a top failure in every audit — screen-reader and voice-control users literally can't tell what they are. WCAG 4.1.2 requires every control to have a name, role and value.
An icon-only close button needs aria-label="Close" — otherwise it's announced as an unnamed button and voice users can't say "click Close".
Related terms
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