What are ARIA roles?

ARIA roles, short for Accessible Rich Internet Applications roles, are crucial for improving accessibility in web content. They provide semantic meaning and context to elements on a webpage, specifically targeting assistive technologies like screen readers. This additional information helps users with disabilities understand the structure and functionality of the content more effectively. For example, by using ARIA roles, a developer can indicate that a certain element is a navigation menu, a button, or a dialog, allowing assistive technologies to convey this information to users clearly.

The other options refer to concepts outside the scope of ARIA roles. Predefined attributes for styling elements pertain to CSS, concerning the visual presentation rather than accessibility. JavaScript functions for dynamic elements relate to programming behaviors, which do not inherently provide semantic structure. Layout models for responsive design involve grid or flexbox systems meant for arranging elements, rather than offering additional clarity on their purpose. Therefore, option A accurately captures the essence of ARIA roles in web design and accessibility.