axe Accessibility Skill

Test web pages for accessibility violations and get AI-powered remediation guidance using the axe DevTools MCP Server.

Prerequisites

• Docker running locally
• AXE_API_KEY environment variable set
• Docker image pulled: dequesystems/axe-mcp-server:latest

Tools

The wrapper script at scripts/axe-mcp.js (Node.js — no extra dependencies) provides two tools:

analyze

Scan a live web page for accessibility violations. Requires a URL (works with localhost).

node scripts/axe-mcp.js analyze <url>

Returns JSON-RPC response. The violations are in result.content[0].text (JSON string) under the data array. Each violation has: rule, impact, description, selector, source, helpUrl.

remediate

Get AI-powered fix guidance for a specific violation. Handles HTML with quotes/brackets safely.

node scripts/axe-mcp.js remediate <ruleId> <elementHtml> <issueRemediation> [pageUrl]

Returns general_description, remediation, and code_fix in result.content[0].text.

tools-list

List available MCP tools.

node scripts/axe-mcp.js tools-list

Workflow

When modifying UI code and a live page is available:

1. Analyze — node scripts/axe-mcp.js analyze
2. Parse — extract violations from the JSON response
3. Remediate — for each unique rule violation, call remediate with ruleId, element HTML, and issue description
4. Apply — implement the recommended code fixes in source
5. Verify — re-run analyze to confirm zero violations

When no live page is available (static code review), apply accessibility best practices directly:

• Images: alt text (or alt="" for decorative)
• Forms: inputs need associated elements
• Interactive elements: keyboard accessible, visible focus
• Color contrast: WCAG AA (4.5:1 normal text, 3:1 large text)
• ARIA: valid, complete, not redundant with native semantics
• Headings: proper hierarchy (h1 → h2 → h3)
• Dynamic content: focus management for modals, SPAs, live regions

Notes

• Each remediate call uses AI credits from your organization's allocation
• The analyze tool spins up a real browser in Docker — allow ~30s for results
• Works with localhost URLs for local development testing

> Note: Requires a paid Axe DevTools for Web subscription.

Support

For technical support, bug reports, and feature requests:

• Email: helpdesk@deque.com
• Support Portal: support.deque.com
• Support Guide

Pricing & Sales

• Product Page: deque.com/axe/mcp-server
• Contact Sales: deque.com/contact

About Deque

Deque Systems is the trusted leader in digital accessibility.

• LinkedIn: Deque Systems