Well, in Github&#x27;s case the icons always seem to accompany a label, which would already make the content accessible. SVG also provides descriptions and titles that can be read out by screenreaders. Icon fonts are &#x27;hacked&#x27; in specific unicode characters and often screenreaders try to read these characters, leading to nonsense.<p>But to specifically enter the question: They hide the icons. The aria-hidden attribute makes sure that the icon is not seen by screenreaders [1].<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.456bereastreet.com&#x2F;archive&#x2F;201205&#x2F;hiding_visible_content_from_screen_readers_with_aria-hidden&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.456bereastreet.com&#x2F;archive&#x2F;201205&#x2F;hiding_visible_...</a>