Guide · Agent skill
How to use the ARIA Required Parent Checker agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The ARIA Required Parent Checker is an agent skill, a packaged set of instructions that an AI coding agent such as Claude can load when a task matches it. This guide shows you how to install the aria-required-parent skill, how to ask for its help with natural requests, and what it does and does not cover. By the end you will be able to have an agent review your markup for ARIA roles that are missing their required parent container.
ARIA Required Parent Checkerthedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the aria-required-parent ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip the skill folder. Unzip it so the folder contains SKILL.md and references/rule.md.
- 3Place it in the skills folder. Move the folder to ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or to a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 4Or upload it in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 5Ask for a review in plain language. Paste your markup or name the component and ask whether ARIA roles sit inside their required parents.
- 6Check the flagged elements. Review each flagged element, roles and labels the agent reports, and apply the suggested wrapping.
- 7Verify with real tools. Confirm the fix with browser accessibility tooling and a screen reader, since the skill covers only this one rule.
What the skill makes the agent do
When installed, the agent reviews HTML and interactive components to confirm that elements with ARIA roles, such as list items, tabs, or menu items, sit inside the parent role they need, like a list or a menu. If they do not, the skill is designed to flag the exact elements and suggest wrapping them in the correct container.
The skill also checks related basics: keyboard behaviour, focus flow and accessible names, so that screen reader users can navigate correctly. Its core rule is that an ARIA child role that is not contained in its required parent may not be announced as part of a group, which breaks navigation.
- Checks that role="listitem" is inside role="list"
- Checks that role="tab" is inside role="tablist"
- Checks that role="menuitem" is inside role="menu"
- Suggests wrapping misplaced elements in the appropriate container role
- Checks native semantics first, then keyboard, focus and naming where relevant
Install the skill from the ZIP or the Claude apps
Download the ZIP for the aria-required-parent skill from this page, then unzip it. The skill folder contains SKILL.md and a references/rule.md file. For a personal install, place the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/. To scope it to one project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder instead.
If you use the Claude apps rather than a local setup, you can upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/aria-required-parent/
- Project install: .claude/skills/aria-required-parent/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Describe the review you want in plain language and mention the markup or component. The skill's description covers reviewing rendered HTML, interactive components and design-system patterns for ARIA roles inside required parents.
Good requests name the thing being checked, for example asking whether the list items in a navigation component are correctly inside their list, or whether the tabs in a tab set sit inside a tablist. Pasting the markup or pointing the agent at the component file gives it something concrete to review.
- "Check whether the menuitems in this dropdown are inside a role=\"menu\" container."
- "Review this tab set for ARIA roles that are missing their tablist parent."
- "Audit these custom list components for listitem nesting problems."
- "Look at this design-system menu pattern before we release it, focusing on parent roles and keyboard behaviour."
Read what the agent returns
For a violation, the rule's review guidance asks the agent to flag the exact elements, roles, labels, focus behaviour or keyboard interactions that break the rule. It also notes how to verify the fix with browser accessibility tooling or assistive technology.
Use the reference example to judge the output. In the source's examples, a correct list uses a div with role="list" wrapping a div with role="listitem", and a correct menu uses a ul with role="menu" wrapping an li with role="menuitem". A misplaced item is one that lacks this kind of parent.
<div role="list">
<div role="listitem">Item 1</div>
</div>What the skill needs and what it runs
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network, according to its listing. Its files are SKILL.md and references/rule.md, and the reference file holds the fuller implementation details and code examples.
Because the skill runs no scripts and makes no network calls, the main safety consideration is what you paste into the agent. Avoid sharing secrets or private code you are not comfortable sending to your AI tool.
- Requirements: none listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
Tips and limits
The skill itself advises checking native semantics first. If a native HTML element already gives the right meaning, such as a real button or list, you may not need ARIA roles at all, and the skill may add little value.
The skill covers only this one rule. It cannot replace a full accessibility audit or testing with real assistive technology such as a screen reader. Use its findings alongside browser accessibility tools and manual keyboard testing.
- Check native HTML first before adding ARIA roles
- Re-test the fixed component with a screen reader and keyboard
- Run the skill on each custom menu, tab set or list component separately for clearer results
What people use it for
- Reviewing a custom navigation menu to confirm menuitems sit inside a role="menu" container.
- Checking a tab set built from divs and buttons for a missing tablist parent.
- Auditing list-like card grids that use role="listitem" without a role="list" wrapper.
- Reviewing a design-system dropdown pattern before release, including keyboard and focus behaviour.
- Cleaning up rendered HTML from a component library that mixes ARIA roles inconsistently.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ARIA Required Parent Checker skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence, as listed on this page. The source does not mention pricing, so check the repository for the current terms of use.
What do I need to run the aria-required-parent skill?
The listing states no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. You need an agent environment that supports skills, such as Claude with skills enabled.
Where do I install the aria-required-parent skill?
Unzip the downloaded folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does this skill replace a full accessibility audit?
No. The skill covers only the rule that ARIA roles must sit inside their required parent roles, plus related basics like keyboard behaviour and accessible names. It cannot replace testing with real assistive technology.
Why does a listitem need a list parent?
Screen readers announce items as part of a group, such as Item 1 of 3, only when the element is correctly nested in its parent. Without the parent, navigation can break.
Should I use ARIA roles if native HTML already works?
The skill's own advice is to check native semantics first. If a native element like a button or list already gives the right meaning, you may not need extra ARIA roles, and the skill may add little value.
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Our verdict
This skill suits front-end developers, teams building custom menus, tabs or list-like components, and anyone reviewing a design-system pattern before release. It is a narrow, focused check for one ARIA parent-child rule, so it is not a substitute for a full accessibility audit or testing with assistive technology. If your project uses native HTML that already provides the right semantics, or does not use ARIA at all, pick a broader accessibility tool or skip it.
Download the skill