A screen reader is a piece of software that processes digital content and converts it into speech or Braille. It allows people who are blind or visually impaired to use a computer or mobile device to interact with digital content.
Who uses a screen reader?
The main users of screen readers are those who are blind or have very limited vision. However, bear in mind that not everyone who uses a screen reader is blind. Screen readers are also used by sighted people with cognitive impairments who find it easier to understand audio rather than text.
People use screen readers for lots of different tasks, such as reading documents, navigating web pages, opening and closing files, editing and listening to music.
How do screen readers work?
A screen reader transforms on-screen information into audio or Braille. Users can either listen to the speech output from the screen reader or use a refreshable Braille display to touch a series of raisable pins which form Braille characters. Audio output and Braille output can be used independently of each other. However, many users choosing Braille also use it in conjunction with audio output.
How do people use a screen reader?
People use screen readers on desktop computers and mobile devices. On a desktop computer, people use a variety of keyboard commands to carry out different tasks. On mobile devices, people can use swipe gestures to navigate apps and websites, or they can explore by touch.
Find out more about how people use screen readers.
Try out a screen reader
There are built-in screen readers available for Windows and Mac computers. NVDA and Narrator are Windows screen readers that are available for Nationwide colleagues to use. Apple devices have a built-in screen reader called VoiceOver, which is available for macOS and iOS. TalkBack is the screen reader available on Android devices.
Try out a screen reader by following our guides: