FrontendIntermediate16 min
Accessible forms in Next.js
Labels, errors, and focus that work with keyboards and screen readers — no design debt.
By Jordan Lee · 2026-04-02
Start with semantics
Every input needs a visible <label> tied with htmlFor. Placeholder text is not a label.
Errors people can use
- Associate error text with
aria-describedby - Move focus to the first invalid field on submit
- Keep error copy specific: what failed and how to fix it
Don't fight the browser
Native validation is a baseline. Layer custom messages on top — don't replace focus rings.