Live region
Also known as: aria-live
A live region is a part of the page that a screen reader announces automatically when its content changes — like a "3 results found" message — without moving the user's focus.
In plain terms
When something updates on screen without a page reload — a form error, a "message sent" toast, a live search count — sighted users see it, but a screen-reader user won't know unless you tell it to speak. Marking that area as a live region (with aria-live) makes the change get read out.
Why it matters
Dynamic, JavaScript-heavy interfaces silently break for screen-reader users when updates aren't announced. Live regions are how you meet WCAG 4.1.3 (Status Messages).
After "Add to cart", a hidden live region announces "Item added, 3 items in cart" so a blind user gets the same confirmation everyone else sees.
Related terms
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