How to fix aria roles on WooCommerce

Steps for WooCommerce

1. In WordPress Admin, go to Appearance → Theme File Editor (or use a child theme and edit via FTP/SFTP).
2. Search your active theme's `.php` template files and `functions.php` for `role=` — common locations are `header.php`, `footer.php`, page templates, and WooCommerce template overrides in `woocommerce/` within your theme folder.
3. Edit the file containing the invalid role, correct the value (or remove the attribute), and click Update File.
4. If the role is injected by a plugin, search for the offending plugin in wp-content/plugins/ and either configure it, update it, or contact its developer.
5. Clear any caching plugins (e.g. WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache) after saving.
6. Re-run axe or WAVE on the affected page to confirm the fix.

What is aria roles?

The `role` attribute tells assistive technologies (screen readers, braille displays, voice control software) what kind of interface element something is — for example, a button, a navigation landmark, a dialog, or a list. The WAI-ARIA specification defines an exact list of allowed role names. If any element on your store carries a role that isn't on that list — whether it's a typo like `role="buton"`, an invented name like `role="product-card"`, or an outdated value like `role="presentation"` used incorrectly — the browser and screen reader simply ignore it or misinterpret the element entirely. WCAG Success Criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value) requires that every user interface component exposes a valid, programmatically determinable role so all users can understand and operate it.

Screen reader users — who include people with visual impairments, motor disabilities, and cognitive disabilities — rely on role information to navigate and interact with your store. An invalid role means those customers hear confusing or missing announcements, cannot identify interactive controls, and may abandon your checkout or product pages. Beyond lost conversions, accessibility failures carry real legal risk: WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is referenced in ADA Title III lawsuits and, in many jurisdictions, is a statutory requirement for online businesses. Google also uses accessibility signals as a quality factor, so pages riddled with invalid ARIA can indirectly suppress organic rankings. Fixing invalid roles is typically a quick code change with outsized impact on both compliance and customer experience.

See the complete Aria roles guide for every platform and the full background.