Review HTML list structure so screen readers can identify lists and announce item counts. Find list items without valid containers, check custom accessibility roles, and guide fixes to markup used for navigation or styling.
Use when applies to HTML documents with `<li>` elements. Also applies to custom ARIA lists where `role='listitem'` must be owned by `role='list'`. Common violations occur in templating systems where list markup is split across components or in CSS resets where developers use `<li>` for layout without proper list parents.
This skill reviews HTML lists and helps correct their structure so screen readers can announce the list type and number of items. It checks whether each <li> has <ul>, <ol>, or <menu> as its direct parent. For custom lists built with ARIA, which provides information for assistive technology, it also checks the relationship between role='listitem' and role='list'.
Use it to review screens where combining components has broken the parent-child structure of a list. It covers nested navigation and <li> elements used for visual styling. It also helps check whether screen readers still recognize a list after CSS removes its bullet markers.
<li> elements on this screen. Identify unsuitable parent elements and suggest fixes.”Review the HTML rendered in the browser as well as the source code. In some browsers, list-style: none can remove list recognition. Add role='list' when needed.
This overview was written by AI (OpenAI Codex) from the public SKILL.md. Check the original below for the exact behavior.
AI rated this skill on four points using only the contents of its SKILL.md. Stars and popularity are not taken into account.
The total counts each point as A = 25, B = 15, C = 5. Rated by AI (OpenAI Codex) as of Oct 23, 2026. Treat it as a guide and read the original before installing.
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When a <li> element exists outside a list container, screen readers lose the ability to announce critical context: NVDA and JAWS will not say 'list of 5 items' or 'item 2 of 5' because there is no list context. VoiceOver may announce the orphan <li> as plain text without any group context, stripping users of the structural information that helps them understand how many items exist and where they are in the list.
<li> element must have a direct parent of <ul>, <ol>, or <menu><li> elements are invalid HTML per the HTML Living Standard<li> is inside a valid list containerrole='listitem' must be owned by a role='list' element per WAI-ARIA requirementsFind all <li> elements in the DOM. For each, check that its direct parent element is <ul>, <ol>, or <menu>. Flag any <li> whose parent is <div>, <section>, <nav>, <span>, or any element other than those three. Also check role='listitem' elements to ensure their closest ancestor with a list-related role is role='list'.
For each orphan <li>: (1) Wrap it and any sibling <li> elements in the appropriate list container — use <ul> for unordered items or <ol> for sequentially ordered items. (2) If the <li> was being used purely for styling (e.g., a bullet point visual), replace it with a <div> or <p> and apply the visual style via CSS. (3) If inside a navigation element, ensure <nav><ul><li> nesting is maintained.
The HTML Living Standard specifies that <li> elements are only valid as children of <ul>, <ol>, or <menu>. This is a structural requirement, not a style preference. Screen readers use the list container to announce the list type ('bullet list' vs 'numbered list') and the total item count. Without the container, this context is lost entirely. Additionally, when list-style: none is applied to a <ul>, some browsers strip the list semantics — if this is intentional (e.g., a navigation menu), add role='list' to the <ul> to restore list semantics for screen readers.
Review the rendered markup and interactive states that affect Place list items within list containers. Flag exact elements, roles, labels, focus behavior, or keyboard interactions that violate the rule, and note how to verify the fix with browser accessibility tooling or assistive tech.
For full implementation details, code examples, and framework-specific guidance,
see references/rule.md.
Rule page: https://frontendchecklist.io/rules/accessibility/listitem
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