Ask any question about Bootstrap here... and get an instant response.
How can I improve the accessibility of Bootstrap's dropdown menus for screen readers?
Asked on Dec 11, 2025
Answer
Improving the accessibility of Bootstrap's dropdown menus for screen readers involves using ARIA attributes and ensuring proper keyboard navigation. Here's a simple example of how to enhance a dropdown menu's accessibility.
<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
<div class="dropdown">
<button class="btn btn-secondary dropdown-toggle" type="button" id="dropdownMenuButton" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">
Dropdown button
</button>
<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdownMenuButton">
<li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Action</a></li>
<li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Another action</a></li>
<li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Something else here</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<!-- END COPY / PASTE -->Additional Comment:
✅ Answered with Bootstrap 5 best practices.- Use `aria-haspopup="true"` on the button to indicate that it controls a menu.
- Use `aria-expanded="false"` initially, and toggle it to `true` when the dropdown is open.
- Ensure the `aria-labelledby` attribute on the `
- ` points to the button's `id`.
- Screen readers will announce the button as a menu control, improving navigation for users with disabilities.
Recommended Links:
