Accented is an open-source frontend library that helps developers identify and fix accessibility issues in real time as they build web applications. Instead of relying on manual audits or browser extensions, Accented integrates directly into a project with just a few lines of code and continuously scans the page for accessibility problems.

The tool is built on top of the widely used axe-core accessibility engine and runs automatically in the browser during development. It monitors changes in the DOM and re-runs accessibility checks whenever updates occur, ensuring that issues are detected as soon as they are introduced.

When issues are found, Accented visually highlights the affected elements on the page and attaches interactive callouts that explain the problem and how to fix it. It also logs issues in the browser console, and developers can choose to run it in a console-only mode if they prefer not to modify the DOM.

Accented is framework-agnostic and works with any frontend stack (React, Vue, Svelte, or plain HTML), making it flexible for both modern and legacy applications. It is designed to complement existing accessibility practices such as linting and automated tests, providing a continuous feedback loop during development.

The library is intended for development environments only, helping teams catch accessibility issues early rather than after deployment. It emphasizes minimal setup, real-time feedback, and integration into existing workflows.

Key features include:

• Real-time accessibility testing in the browser during development
• Visual highlights and interactive callouts for accessibility issues
• Built on axe-core for reliable accessibility checks
• Framework-agnostic and works with any web stack
• Console output and optional console-only mode
• Minimal setup with just a few lines of code

Common use cases include:

• Identifying accessibility issues during frontend development
• Improving WCAG compliance
• Debugging UI accessibility problems
• Integrating accessibility checks into developer workflows
• Reducing reliance on manual audits

Accented is developed and maintained by Pavel Pomerantsev as an open-source project.