Using native <button> elements is usually better than role="button" because the former comes with interactive features and barrier-free support. 1. <button> can focus and respond to Enter and Space keys by default; 2. Automatically submit forms and follow browser accessibility standards; 3. role="button" requires manual keyboard interaction, focus style and ARIA attributes; 4. role="button" should be used only in specific scenarios such as SVG or in restricted systems; 5. Use native buttons to save time and improve accessibility experience.
element?">
If you're trying to make something clickable on a webpage—like a <div> or a <code><span></span> —you might come across role="button" and wonder how it's different from just using a real <button></button> element. The short answer is: they're not the same, and in most cases, using a native <button></button> is better unless you have a specific reason not to. 
element?" /> element?" />
Here's what you need to know about the difference between role="button" and the actual <button></button> element.
Accessibility Basics: What Screen Readers See
When you use a regular <button></button> , screen readers automatically recognize it as an interactive element. They announce it properly, like “button” or “clickable,” and users know they can interact with it.
element?" /> element?" /> If you slap role="button" onto a <div> or <code><span></span> , it does tell assistive tech that this thing is supposed to act like a button—but that's all it does. You still have to manually handle keyboard interactions (like Enter key presses), focus styles, and ARIA attributes. So while screen readers may say "button," it won't behave like one without extra code.
Native Button Handles Interaction Automatically
A real <button></button> comes with built-in functionality:
element?" /> element?" />- It's focused by default
- It responds to Enter and Space key presses
- It submits forms if type is
submit - It follows browser accessibility standards out of the box
With role="button" , none of that works unless you add event listeners for keydown , focus , click , etc., yourself. For example, you'd need to do something like this:
element.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
e.preventDefault();
// Trigger your action here
}
});And don't forget to manage focus and visual indicators so keyboard users know where they are.
Styling and Use Cases: When to Choose One Over the Other
Sometimes people avoid <button> because it has default styling that's hard to reset across browsers. But that's not a good reason to switch to role="button" . Instead, just reset the button styles:
button {
background: none;
border: none;
padding: 0;
font: inherit;
cursor: pointer;
} Use role="button" only when:
- You're working with elements that can't be buttons semantically (like inside SVGs)
- You're enhancing a non-form control that needs to look and act like a button but isn't one structurally
- Legacy systems or frameworks restrict using
<button></button>
But even then, always test for keyboard navigation and screen reader support.
Final Thoughts
So yes, role="button" makes an element announcement like a button, but it doesn't make it behave like one. If you go that route, you'll have to wire up all the expected behavior manually.
The <button></button> element, on the other hand, gets you 90% of the way there right out of the gate. Unless you have a strong reason otherwise, stick with native controls—they save time and improve accessibility by default.
Basically that's it.
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