A Working SVG Workflow for Accessible Icons

Using icon fonts is generally discouraged due to rendering inconsistencies, accessibility issues, and semantic limitations. This article outlines a streamlined workflow for creating and implementing accessible SVG icons, leveraging the power of SVG sprites.

While SVGs might seem complex, this approach simplifies the process. We'll utilize readily available icons and automate sprite generation for efficient management.

Key Advantages:

• Avoids the pitfalls of icon fonts.
• Simplifies SVG management with automated sprite generation.
• Provides an easily reusable icon component.
• Prioritizes accessibility through the use of <title></title> and <desc></desc> tags.

Workflow Overview:

1. Source Icons: Acquire SVG icons (e.g., from Icomoon). Clean up the SVG files, removing unnecessary metadata to minimize sprite size.
2. Sprite Generation: Use a tool like spritesh (installable via npm: npm install spritesh -g) to generate an SVG sprite from your individual icon files. This consolidates all icons into a single file for efficient loading. A sample command: spritesh --input assets/images/icons --output _includes/sprite.svg --viewbox "0 0 16 16" --prefix icon-
3. Sprite Inclusion: Include the generated sprite in your main layout (e.g., using {% include sprite.svg %} in Jekyll).
4. Icon Component: Create a reusable component (e.g., a Jekyll include or React component) using the <use></use> tag to reference icons from the sprite. This component should allow for easy customization of classes, viewBox, and accessibility attributes.
5. Accessibility: The icon component should include <title></title> and <desc></desc> tags to provide context for screen readers, enhancing accessibility. These descriptions should be context-specific, dynamically added based on the icon's usage.

Example Icon Component (Jekyll):

{% capture id %}{% increment uniqueid %}{% endcapture %}
<svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" role="img" class="icon icon-{{ include.icon }}" aria-labelledby="{% if include.title %}title-{{ id }}{% endif %}{% if include.desc %} desc-{{ id }}{% endif %}">
  {% if include.title %}
  <title id="title-{{ id }}">{{ include.title }}</title>
  {% endif %}
  {% if include.desc %}
  <desc id="desc-{{ id }}">{{ include.desc }}</desc>
  {% endif %}
  <use xlink:href="#icon-{{ include.icon }}"></use>
</svg>

Example Icon Component (React):

import { uniqueId } from 'lodash';

const Icon = (props) => {
  const id = uniqueId();
  return (
    <svg role="img" viewBox="0 0 16 16" className={`icon icon-${props.icon}`} aria-labelledby={
      (props.title ? `title-${id}` : '') +
      (props.desc ? ` desc-${id}` : '')
    }>
      {props.title && <title id={`title-${id}`}>{props.title}</title>}
      {props.desc && <desc id={`desc-${id}`}>{props.desc}</desc>}
      <use xlinkHref={`#icon-${props.icon}`} />
    </svg>
  );
};

export default Icon;

Optimization: Integrate tools like SVGO (npm install svgo) to optimize SVG files before sprite generation for improved performance. Use npm scripts to automate this process.

This workflow provides a robust, maintainable, and accessible solution for managing SVG icons in your projects. Remember to always test your icons across different browsers and screen readers to ensure optimal accessibility.

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