diff --git a/eslint.config.js b/eslint.config.js
index 764f873..9425937 100644
--- a/eslint.config.js
+++ b/eslint.config.js
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export default [
     },
     rules: {
       ...astro.configs.recommended.rules,
-      ...astro.configs["jsx-a11y-recommended"].rules,
+      ...astro.configs["jsx-a11y-strict"].rules,
       "no-undef": "off", // TypeScript handles this
     },
   },
diff --git a/src/components/BackToPrev.astro b/src/components/BackToPrev.astro
index 5cce7d2..aca2c07 100644
--- a/src/components/BackToPrev.astro
+++ b/src/components/BackToPrev.astro
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ type Props = {
 const { href } = Astro.props;
 ---
  
-<a href={href} class="relative group w-fit flex pl-7 pr-3 py-1.5 flex-nowrap rounded border border-black/15 dark:border-white/20 hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300 ease-in-out">
-  <svg 
-    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 
+<a id="back-to-prev" href={href} class="relative group w-fit flex pl-7 pr-3 py-1.5 flex-nowrap rounded border border-black/15 dark:border-white/20 hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300 ease-in-out">
+  <svg
+    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
     viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+    aria-hidden="true"
+    focusable="false"
     class="absolute top-1/2 left-2 -translate-y-1/2 size-4 stroke-2 fill-none stroke-current">
     <line x1="5" y1="12" x2="19" y2="12" class="translate-x-2 group-hover:translate-x-0 scale-x-0 group-hover:scale-x-100 transition-transform duration-300 ease-in-out" />
     <polyline points="12 5 5 12 12 19" class="translate-x-1 group-hover:translate-x-0 transition-transform duration-300 ease-in-out" />
diff --git a/src/components/BackToTop.astro b/src/components/BackToTop.astro
index c11d0c7..f3d9b42 100644
--- a/src/components/BackToTop.astro
+++ b/src/components/BackToTop.astro
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-<button id="back-to-top" class="relative group w-fit flex pl-8 pr-3 py-1.5 flex-nowrap rounded border border-black/15 dark:border-white/20 hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300 ease-in-out">
-  <svg 
-    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 
+<button id="back-to-top" type="button" class="relative group w-fit flex pl-8 pr-3 py-1.5 flex-nowrap rounded border border-black/15 dark:border-white/20 hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300 ease-in-out">
+  <svg
+    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
     viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+    aria-hidden="true"
+    focusable="false"
     class="absolute top-1/2 left-2 -translate-y-1/2 size-4 stroke-2 fill-none stroke-current rotate-90">
     <line x1="5" y1="12" x2="19" y2="12" class="translate-x-2 group-hover:translate-x-0 scale-x-0 group-hover:scale-x-100 transition-transform duration-300 ease-in-out" />
     <polyline points="12 5 5 12 12 19" class="translate-x-1 group-hover:translate-x-0 transition-transform duration-300 ease-in-out" />
diff --git a/src/components/Footer.astro b/src/components/Footer.astro
index c3a4295..adfef0d 100644
--- a/src/components/Footer.astro
+++ b/src/components/Footer.astro
@@ -15,10 +15,13 @@ import BackToTop from "@components/BackToTop.astro";
       <div>
         &copy; 2024 {`|`} {SITE.NAME}
       </div>
-      <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 items-center">
+      <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 items-center" role="group" aria-label="Theme selection">
         <button
           id="light-theme-button"
+          type="button"
           aria-label="Light theme"
+          aria-pressed="false"
+          data-theme-button="light"
           class="group size-8 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full"
         >
           <svg
@@ -46,7 +49,10 @@ import BackToTop from "@components/BackToTop.astro";
         </button>
         <button
           id="dark-theme-button"
+          type="button"
           aria-label="Dark theme"
+          aria-pressed="false"
+          data-theme-button="dark"
           class="group size-8 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full"
         >
           <svg
@@ -66,7 +72,10 @@ import BackToTop from "@components/BackToTop.astro";
         </button>
         <button
           id="system-theme-button"
+          type="button"
           aria-label="System theme"
+          aria-pressed="false"
+          data-theme-button="system"
           class="group size-8 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full"
         >
           <svg
diff --git a/src/components/Head.astro b/src/components/Head.astro
index 3d615eb..5590fdb 100644
--- a/src/components/Head.astro
+++ b/src/components/Head.astro
@@ -99,43 +99,40 @@ const defaultOgData: OpenGraphData = ogData || {
 </script>
 
 <script is:inline>
+  const colorSchemeMedia = window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)");
+
   function init() {
-    preloadTheme();
     onScroll();
     animate();
 
     const backToTop = document.getElementById("back-to-top");
-    backToTop?.addEventListener("click", (event) => scrollToTop(event));
+    backToTop?.removeEventListener("click", handleScrollToTop);
+    backToTop?.addEventListener("click", handleScrollToTop);
 
     const backToPrev = document.getElementById("back-to-prev");
-    backToPrev?.addEventListener("click", () => window.history.back());
-
-    const lightThemeButton = document.getElementById("light-theme-button");
-    lightThemeButton?.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      localStorage.setItem("theme", "light");
-      toggleTheme(false);
-    });
-
-    const darkThemeButton = document.getElementById("dark-theme-button");
-    darkThemeButton?.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      localStorage.setItem("theme", "dark");
-      toggleTheme(true);
-    });
-
-    const systemThemeButton = document.getElementById("system-theme-button");
-    systemThemeButton?.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      localStorage.setItem("theme", "system");
-      toggleTheme(window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches);
-    });
+    backToPrev?.removeEventListener("click", handleBackToPrev);
+    backToPrev?.addEventListener("click", handleBackToPrev);
+
+    const skipLink = document.querySelector(".skip-link");
+    skipLink?.removeEventListener("click", focusMainContent);
+    skipLink?.addEventListener("click", focusMainContent);
+
+    document
+      .querySelectorAll("[data-theme-button]")
+      .forEach((button) => {
+        if (button.dataset.initialized === "true") return;
+        button.dataset.initialized = "true";
+        button.addEventListener("click", () => {
+          const preference = button.getAttribute("data-theme-button");
+          if (preference) {
+            setThemePreference(preference);
+          }
+        });
+      });
 
-    window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)")
-      .addEventListener("change", event => {
-        if (localStorage.theme === "system" || !localStorage.theme) {
-          toggleTheme(event.matches);
-        }
-      }
-    );
+    updateThemeButtons(getThemePreference());
 
+    document.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll);
     document.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll);
   }
 
@@ -157,7 +154,7 @@ const defaultOgData: OpenGraphData = ogData || {
     }
   }
 
-  function scrollToTop(event) {
+  function handleScrollToTop(event) {
     event.preventDefault();
     window.scrollTo({
       top: 0,
@@ -165,7 +162,23 @@ const defaultOgData: OpenGraphData = ogData || {
     });
   }
 
-function toggleTheme(dark) {
+  function handleBackToPrev(event) {
+    if (window.history.length > 1) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      window.history.back();
+    }
+  }
+
+  function focusMainContent() {
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      const main = document.getElementById("main-content");
+      if (main) {
+        main.focus();
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  function toggleTheme(dark) {
     const css = document.createElement("style");
 
     css.appendChild(
@@ -189,21 +202,51 @@ function toggleTheme(dark) {
       document.documentElement.classList.remove("dark");
     }
 
-  window.getComputedStyle(css).opacity;
+    window.getComputedStyle(css).opacity;
     document.head.removeChild(css);
   }
 
+  function getThemePreference() {
+    const stored = localStorage.getItem("theme");
+    return stored === "light" || stored === "dark" || stored === "system"
+      ? stored
+      : "system";
+  }
+
+  function resolveDarkMode(preference) {
+    if (preference === "dark") return true;
+    if (preference === "light") return false;
+    return colorSchemeMedia.matches;
+  }
+
+  function updateThemeButtons(activePreference) {
+    document
+      .querySelectorAll("[data-theme-button]")
+      .forEach((button) => {
+        const value = button.getAttribute("data-theme-button");
+        button.setAttribute("aria-pressed", value === activePreference ? "true" : "false");
+      });
+  }
+
+  function setThemePreference(preference) {
+    localStorage.setItem("theme", preference);
+    toggleTheme(resolveDarkMode(preference));
+    updateThemeButtons(preference);
+  }
+
   function preloadTheme() {
-    const userTheme = localStorage.theme;
+    const preference = getThemePreference();
+    toggleTheme(resolveDarkMode(preference));
+  }
 
-    if (userTheme === "light" || userTheme === "dark") {
-      toggleTheme(userTheme === "dark");
-    } else {
-      toggleTheme(window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches);
+  colorSchemeMedia.addEventListener("change", (event) => {
+    if (getThemePreference() === "system") {
+      toggleTheme(event.matches);
+      updateThemeButtons("system");
     }
-  }
+  });
 
-  document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => init());
-  document.addEventListener("astro:after-swap", () => init());
+  document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", init);
+  document.addEventListener("astro:after-swap", init);
   preloadTheme();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/components/Header.astro b/src/components/Header.astro
index ff4ddb2..f59e6d0 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.astro
+++ b/src/components/Header.astro
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 import Container from "@components/Container.astro";
 import Link from "@components/Link.astro";
 import { SITE } from "@consts";
+
+const currentPath = Astro.url?.pathname ?? "/";
 ---
 
 <header>
@@ -12,22 +14,39 @@ import { SITE } from "@consts";
           {SITE.NAME}
         </div>
       </Link>
-      <nav class="flex gap-1">
-        <Link href="/blog">
-          blog
-        </Link>
-        <span>
-          {`/`}
-        </span>
-        <Link href="/briefs">
-          briefs
-        </Link>
-        <span>
-          {`/`}
-        </span>
-        <Link href="/projects">
-          projects
-        </Link>
+      <nav aria-label="Primary" class="flex">
+        <ul class="flex items-center gap-3 list-none">
+          <li>
+            <Link
+              href="/blog"
+              aria-current={currentPath.startsWith("/blog") ? "page" : undefined}
+            >
+              blog
+            </Link>
+          </li>
+          <li aria-hidden="true" class="text-black/40 dark:text-white/40">
+            /
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <Link
+              href="/briefs"
+              aria-current={currentPath.startsWith("/briefs") ? "page" : undefined}
+            >
+              briefs
+            </Link>
+          </li>
+          <li aria-hidden="true" class="text-black/40 dark:text-white/40">
+            /
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <Link
+              href="/projects"
+              aria-current={currentPath.startsWith("/projects") ? "page" : undefined}
+            >
+              projects
+            </Link>
+          </li>
+        </ul>
       </nav>
     </div>
   </Container>
diff --git a/src/components/Link.astro b/src/components/Link.astro
index 2014ca2..ab38b56 100644
--- a/src/components/Link.astro
+++ b/src/components/Link.astro
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ const { href, external, underline = true, ...rest } = Astro.props;
 
 <a 
   href={href} 
-  target={ external ? "_blank" : "_self" } 
+  target={external ? "_blank" : undefined}
+  rel={external ? "noopener noreferrer" : undefined}
   class={cn("inline-block decoration-black/15 dark:decoration-white/30 hover:decoration-black/25 hover:dark:decoration-white/50 text-current hover:text-black hover:dark:text-white transition-colors duration-300 ease-in-out", underline && "underline underline-offset-2")}
   {...rest}>
   <slot/>
diff --git a/src/layouts/PageLayout.astro b/src/layouts/PageLayout.astro
index bb8017c..fdb6947 100644
--- a/src/layouts/PageLayout.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/PageLayout.astro
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ const plainTitle = stripMarkdown(title);
     <Head title={`${plainTitle} | ${SITE.NAME}`} description={description} ogData={ogData} />
   </head>
   <body>
+    <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
     <Header />
-    <main>
+    <main id="main-content" tabindex="-1">
       <slot />
     </main>
     <Footer />
diff --git a/src/styles/global.css b/src/styles/global.css
index 45deaee..304be7e 100644
--- a/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/src/styles/global.css
@@ -23,6 +23,31 @@ body {
   @apply text-black/50 dark:text-white/75;
 }
 
+.skip-link {
+  position: absolute;
+  left: 1rem;
+  top: -4rem;
+  z-index: 100;
+  padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+  border-radius: 0.5rem;
+  background-color: #f5f5f5;
+  color: #111827;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  transition: top 150ms ease-in-out;
+}
+
+.dark .skip-link {
+  background-color: #1f2937;
+  color: #f5f5f5;
+}
+
+.skip-link:focus,
+.skip-link:hover {
+  top: 1rem;
+  outline: 2px solid #2563eb;
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
 header {
   @apply fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 py-5;
   @apply bg-stone-100/75 dark:bg-stone-900/25;
@@ -33,6 +58,11 @@ main {
   @apply flex-1 py-32;
 }
 
+main:focus {
+  outline: 2px solid #2563eb;
+  outline-offset: 0.5rem;
+}
+
 footer {
   @apply py-5 text-sm;
 }