[BUG] Add +/- to code diff (screen reader accessibility)
Status Fixed / completed
Maintainer reply ✓ Yes — bcherny
Workaround ✓ Mentioned in thread ↓
Activity 4 comments · opened May 2, 2025 · closed Jun 11, 2025
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (bcherny, collaborator)
responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.
Environment
- Platform (select one):
- [X] Anthropic API
- [ ] AWS Bedrock
- [ ] Google Vertex AI
- [ ] Other: <!-- specify -->
- Claude CLI version: 0.2.99
- Operating System: Windows 11, using WSL with Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS
- Terminal: "Terminal" app in Windows (windowsterminal.exe), using Ubuntu terminal
Bug Description
For screen reader users, there is no easy way to view added/removed lines in a diff, for for files edited by Claude Code.
My understanding is that the only indication of whether a line is added or removed is the color (green/red) but that formatting info is harder to access with screen reader.
The simplest fix I can think of is have a "+" or "-" next to the line depending on added/removed, just like in git diff.
Maybe this can be a toggle-able setting in Claude Code config too, if some users prefer without it.
Steps to Reproduce
- start Claude Code with
claudein WSL Ubuntu terminal - ask Claude to add a line and also remove another line in an example file.
- Claude Code then prompts you to review the diff, and visually there are green/red lines indicating add/removal. But there's no screen reader friendly text that indicates added/removed lines.
Expected Behavior
Expect there to be a way to indicate to screen reader users through text rather than font color, about whether line is added/removed in the diff.
Actual Behavior
Only color indication
Additional Context
None
4 Comments
@ Screen reader users, are there any good workarounds for this for the time being?
My current workaround is pretty terrible:
Fix incoming in tomorrow's release!
I didn't notice anything different while using the latest version. The changelog also doesn't make any mention of this being fixed?
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