WCAG Success Criteria Guide
Complete reference guide for all WCAG 2.2 success criteria. Learn what each criterion requires, see implementation examples, and understand how A11yied validates compliance.
A11yied automatically tests 95% of WCAG 2.2 Level AA criteria (the standard for legal compliance including EAA, ADA, Section 508)
Showing 87 of 87 criteria
// Perceivable
Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
Level AEssential - Must satisfy for basic accessibility
Non-text Content
All non-text content has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose.
Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
For prerecorded audio-only and video-only media, alternatives are provided.
Captions (Prerecorded)
Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media.
Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
An alternative or audio description is provided for prerecorded video content.
Info and Relationships
Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined.
Meaningful Sequence
When the sequence of content affects meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.
Sensory Characteristics
Instructions do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components.
Use of Color
Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information.
Audio Control
A mechanism is available to pause or stop automatically playing audio.
Level AARecommended - Standard for legal compliance
Captions (Live)
Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media.
Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content.
Orientation
Content does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation.
Identify Input Purpose
The purpose of each input field can be programmatically determined.
Contrast (Minimum)
Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
Resize text
Text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent.
Images of Text
If technologies can achieve visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text.
Reflow
Content can be presented without loss of information or functionality and without horizontal scrolling.
Non-text Contrast
Visual presentation of user interface components and graphical objects have sufficient contrast.
Text Spacing
No loss of content or functionality occurs when text spacing is modified.
Content on Hover or Focus
Additional content that appears on hover or focus can be dismissed, hoverable, and persistent.
Level AAAAdvanced - Enhanced accessibility
Sign Language (Prerecorded)
Sign language interpretation is provided for all prerecorded audio content.
Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Extended audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content.
Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
An alternative for time-based media is provided for all prerecorded synchronized media.
Audio-only (Live)
An alternative that presents equivalent information for live audio-only content is provided.
Identify Purpose
The purpose of user interface components can be programmatically determined.
Contrast (Enhanced)
Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1.
Low or No Background Audio
For audio content that contains speech, the audio does not contain background sounds.
Visual Presentation
Visual presentation of blocks of text provides various formatting options.
Images of Text (No Exception)
Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential.
// Operable
Interface components must be operable by all users.
Level AEssential - Must satisfy for basic accessibility
Keyboard
All functionality is available from a keyboard.
No Keyboard Trap
Keyboard focus is not trapped in any part of the content.
Character Key Shortcuts
Character key shortcuts can be turned off or remapped.
Timing Adjustable
Users can turn off, adjust, or extend time limits.
Pause, Stop, Hide
Users can pause, stop, or hide moving, blinking, or scrolling information.
Three Flashes or Below Threshold
Content does not contain anything that flashes more than three times per second.
Bypass Blocks
A mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple pages.
Page Titled
Web pages have titles that describe topic or purpose.
Focus Order
If content can be navigated sequentially and navigation sequences affect meaning, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning.
Link Purpose (In Context)
The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context.
Pointer Gestures
All functionality that uses multipoint or path-based gestures can be operated with a single pointer.
Pointer Cancellation
For functionality that can be operated using a single pointer, completion of the function is on the up-event.
Label in Name
For user interface components with labels that include text or images of text, the name contains the text that is presented visually.
Motion Actuation
Functionality that can be operated by device motion or user motion can also be operated by user interface components.
Level AARecommended - Standard for legal compliance
Multiple Ways
More than one way is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages.
Headings and Labels
Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.
Focus Visible
Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible.
Focus Appearance (Minimum)
When the keyboard focus indicator is visible, it has a minimum area and contrast of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors, and a thickness of at least 2 CSS pixels.
Dragging Movements
All functionality that uses a dragging movement can be achieved by a single pointer without dragging.
Target Size (Minimum)
The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels.
Level AAAAdvanced - Enhanced accessibility
Keyboard (No Exception)
All functionality is available from a keyboard without exception.
No Timing
Timing is not an essential part of the event or activity.
Interruptions
Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed by the user.
Re-authenticating
When an authenticated session expires, the user can continue the activity without loss of data after re-authenticating.
Timeouts
Users are warned of the duration of any user inactivity that could cause data loss.
Three Flashes
Content does not contain anything that flashes more than three times per second.
Animation from Interactions
Motion animation triggered by interaction can be disabled.
Location
Information about the user's location within a set of Web pages is available.
Link Purpose (Link Only)
A mechanism is available to allow the purpose of each link to be identified from link text alone.
Section Headings
Section headings are used to organize the content.
Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced)
When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, no part of the component is hidden by author-created content.
Focus Appearance
When the keyboard focus indicator is visible, it meets enhanced requirements for size, contrast, and thickness.
Target Size (Enhanced)
The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels.
Concurrent Input Mechanisms
Content does not restrict use of input modalities available on a platform except where the restriction is essential.
// Understandable
Information and interface operation must be understandable.
Level AEssential - Must satisfy for basic accessibility
Language of Page
The default human language of each Web page can be programmatically determined.
On Focus
When any user interface component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.
On Input
Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context.
Consistent Help
If a Web page contains any of the following help mechanisms, they occur in the same relative order.
Error Identification
If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text.
Labels or Instructions
Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.
Redundant Entry
Information previously entered by or provided to the user that is required to be entered again in the same process is either auto-populated, or available for the user to select.
Level AARecommended - Standard for legal compliance
Language of Parts
The human language of each passage or phrase in the content can be programmatically determined.
Consistent Navigation
Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated.
Consistent Identification
Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently.
Error Suggestion
If an input error is automatically detected and suggestions for correction are known, then the suggestions are provided to the user.
Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)
For Web pages that cause legal commitments or financial transactions for the user to occur, submissions are reversible, checked, or confirmed.
Accessible Authentication (Minimum)
A cognitive function test is not required for any step in an authentication process unless alternatives are provided.
Level AAAAdvanced - Enhanced accessibility
Unusual Words
A mechanism is available for identifying specific definitions of words or phrases used in an unusual or restricted way.
Abbreviations
A mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning of abbreviations is available.
Reading Level
When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content is available.
Pronunciation
A mechanism is available for identifying specific pronunciation of words where meaning of the words is ambiguous without knowing the pronunciation.
Change on Request
Changes of context are initiated only by user request or a mechanism is available to turn off such changes.
Help
Context-sensitive help is available.
Error Prevention (All)
For Web pages that require the user to submit information, submissions are reversible, checked, or confirmed.
Accessible Authentication (Enhanced)
A cognitive function test is not required for any step in an authentication process.
// Robust
Content must be robust enough to work with assistive technologies.
Level AEssential - Must satisfy for basic accessibility
Level AARecommended - Standard for legal compliance
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