From Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0
to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
W3C Working Draft 06 June 2008
Introduction
Incomplete draft: This document is an editor's copy that has no official standing and is incomplete. Particularly, the section WCAG 2.0 and MWBP Together is only an outline; WCAG 1.0 to MWBP is only partly filled out. It is subject to major changes and is therefore not intended for implementation. It is provided for review and feedback only. Please send feedback to public-bpwg-comments@w3.org (archive).
This page is part of a suite of related documents. Please refer to the “How to Use These Documents” section for more information.
If your content already meets Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP), this page describes what needs to be done to meet all the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 checkpoints.
Summary of work required to make content that meets MWBP also meet WCAG 1.0
This section provides guidance on the “upgrade path” from MWBP 1.0 to accessibility through WCAG 1.0 compliance. For each of the WCAG 1.0 priorities there are three possible levels of effort required, labelled for simplicity with keywords (nothing, something, everything):
${define_efforts}To summarise, if your content already complies with MWBP 1.0, to achieve compliance with WCAG 1.0, you need to do the following:
Nothing: content already complies with these checkpoints:
- 1.1 (Priority 1) Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content)…, covered by NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES and possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS.
- 2.1 (Priority 1) Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup, covered by USE_OF_COLOR.
- 6.1 (Priority 1) Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets, covered by STYLE_SHEETS_SUPPORT and partially covered by FONTS.
- 6.3 (Priority 1) Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported…, covered by OBJECTS_OR_SCRIPT.
- 3.2 (Priority 2) Create documents that validate to published formal grammars, covered by VALID_MARKUP.
- 3.3 (Priority 2) Use style sheets to control layout and presentation, covered by STYLE_SHEETS_USE.
- 3.4 (Priority 2) Use relative rather than absolute units in markup language attribute values and style sheet property values, covered by MEASURES.
- 3.5 (Priority 2) Use header elements to convey document structure and use them according to specification, covered by STRUCTURE.
- 7.5 (Priority 2) Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, do not use markup to redirect pages automatically. Instead, configure the server to perform redirects, covered by REDIRECTION.
- 10.1 (Priority 2) Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user, covered by POP_UPS.
- 12.4 (Priority 2) Associate labels explicitly with their controls, covered by CONTROL_LABELLING.
- 13.4 (Priority 2) Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner, covered by NAVIGATION.
- 9.4 (Priority 3) Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects, covered by TAB_ORDER.
- 9.5 (Priority 3) Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls, covered by ACCESS_KEYS, possibly partially covered by IMAGE_MAPS and possibly partially covered by MINIMIZE_KEYSTROKES.
- 10.4 (Priority 3) Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default, place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas, covered by PROVIDE_DEFAULTS.
- 13.8 (Priority 3) Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc., covered by CLARITY.
Something: more effort of some kind or a check, to comply with these checkpoints:
- 1.2 (Priority 1) Provide redundant text links for each active region of a server-side image map, partially covered by NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES and possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS.
- 5.1 (Priority 1) For data tables, identify row and column headers, possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 5.2 (Priority 1) For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers, use markup to associate data cells and header cells, possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT, TABLES_NESTED and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 6.2 (Priority 1) Ensure that equivalents for dynamic content are updated when the dynamic content changes, possibly partially covered by OBJECTS_OR_SCRIPT.
- 9.1 (Priority 1) Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape, possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS.
- 12.1 (Priority 1) Title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation, possibly covered by NO_FRAMES.
- 14.1 (Priority 1) Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content, partially covered by CLARITY.
- 2.2 (Priority 2) Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having color deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen (for images), partially covered by COLOR_CONTRAST and BACKGROUND_IMAGE_READABILITY.
- 3.1 (Priority 2) When an appropriate markup language exists, use markup rather than images to convey information, possibly partially covered by NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES and GRAPHICS_FOR_SPACING.
- 5.3 (Priority 2) Do not use tables for layout unless the table makes sense when linearized, possibly covered by TABLES_LAYOUT, TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 5.4 (Priority 2) If a table is used for layout, do not use any structural markup for the purpose of visual formatting possibly covered by TABLES_LAYOUT, TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 7.4 (Priority 2) Until user agents provide the ability to stop the refresh, do not create periodically auto-refreshing pages, possibly covered by AUTO_REFRESH.
- 10.2 (Priority 2) Until user agents support explicit associations between labels and form controls, for all form controls with implicitly associated labels, ensure that the label is properly positioned, partially covered by CONTROL_POSITION.
- 11.1 (Priority 2) Use W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task and use the latest versions when supported, possibly partially covered by VALID_MARKUP.
- 11.2 (Priority 2) Avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies possibly partially covered by VALID_MARKUP and partially covered by FONTS.
- 12.2 (Priority 2) Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other if it is not obvious by frame titles alone, possibly covered by NO_FRAMES.
- 12.3 (Priority 2) Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate, partially covered by PAGE_SIZE_USABLE.
- 13.1 (Priority 2) Clearly identify the target of each link, partially covered by LINK_TARGET_ID.
- 13.2 (Priority 2) Provide metadata to add semantic information to pages and sites, partially covered by PAGE_TITLE.
- 1.5 (Priority 3) Until user agents render text equivalents for client-side image map links, provide redundant text links for each active region of a client-side image map, possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS and NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES.
- 2.2 (Priority 3) Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having color deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen (for images), partially covered by COLOR_CONTRAST
- 5.5 (Priority 3) Provide summaries for tables, possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 5.6 (Priority 3) Provide abbreviations for header labels, possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 10.3 (Priority 3) Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render side-by-side text correctly, provide a linear text alternative (on the current page or some other) for all tables that lay out text in parallel, word-wrapped columns, possibly partially covered TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
- 13.5 (Priority 3) Provide navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism, possibly NAVBAR.
- 13.6 (Priority 3) Group related links, identify the group (for user agents), and, until user agents do so, provide a way to bypass the group, possibly NAVBAR and partially possibly CENTRAL_MEANING.
Everything: start from scratch to comply with these checkpoints:
- 1.3 (Priority 1) Until user agents can automatically read aloud the text equivalent of a visual track, provide an auditory description of the important information of the visual track of a multimedia presentation.
- 1.4 (Priority 1) For any time-based multimedia presentation (e.g., a movie or animation), synchronize equivalent alternatives (e.g., captions or auditory descriptions of the visual track) with the presentation.
- 4.1 (Priority 1) Clearly identify changes in the natural language of a document's text and any text equivalents (e.g., captions).
- 7.1 (Priority 1) Until user agents allow users to control flickering, avoid causing the screen to flicker.
- 8.1 (Priority 1) Make programmatic elements such as scripts and applets directly accessible or compatible with assistive technologies (priority 1 if functionality is important and not presented elsewhere).
- 11.4 (Priority 1) If, after best efforts, you cannot create an accessible page, provide a link to an alternative page that uses W3C technologies, is accessible, has equivalent information (or functionality), and is updated as often as the inaccessible (original) page.
- 3.6 (Priority 2) Mark up lists and list items properly.
- 3.7 Mark up quotations. Do not use quotation markup for formatting effects such as indentation.
- 6.4 (Priority 2) For scripts and applets, ensure that event handlers are input device-independent.
- 6.5 (Priority 2) Ensure that dynamic content is accessible or provide an alternative presentation or page.
- 7.2 (Priority 2) Until user agents allow users to control blinking, avoid causing content to blink (i.e., change presentation at a regular rate, such as turning on and off).
- 7.3 (Priority 2) Until user agents allow users to freeze moving content, avoid movement in pages.
- 8.1 (Priority 2) Make programmatic elements such as scripts and applets directly accessible or compatible with assistive technologies (priority 1 if functionality is important and not presented elsewhere).
- 9.2 (Priority 2) Ensure that any element that has its own interface can be operated in a device-independent manner.
- 9.3 (Priority 2) For scripts, specify logical event handlers rather than device-dependent event handlers.
- 13.3 (Priority 2) Provide information about the general layout of a site (e.g., a site map or table of contents).
- 4.2 (Priority 3) Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document where it first occurs.
- 4.3 (Priority 3) Identify the primary natural language of a document.
- 10.5 (Priority 3) Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render adjacent links distinctly, include non-link, printable characters (surrounded by spaces) between adjacent links.
- 11.3 (Priority 3) Provide information so that users may receive documents according to their preferences (e.g., language, content type, etc.)
- 13.7 (Priority 3) If search functions are provided, enable different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences.
- 13.9 (Priority 3) Provide information about document collections (i.e., documents comprising multiple pages.).
- 13.10 (Priority 3) Provide a means to skip over multi-line ASCII art.
- 14.2 Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations where they will facilitate comprehension of the page.
- 14.3 (Priority 3) Create a style of presentation that is consistent across pages.
Addressing WCAG 1.0 Checkpoints
1.1 (Priority 1) Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content).
WCAG 1.0: "Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). This includes: images, graphical representations of text (including symbols), image map regions, animations (e.g., animated GIFs), applets and programmatic objects, ascii art, frames, scripts, images used as list bullets, spacers, graphical buttons, sounds (played with or without user interaction), stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video."
NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES covers this checkpoint.
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1.2 (Priority 1) Provide redundant text links for each active region of a server-side image map.
WCAG 1.0: "Provide redundant text links for each active region of a server-side image map."
If you haven't used image maps as suggested by IMAGE_MAPS then this checkpoint does not apply. However, if you have used server-side image maps, then provide redundant text links for each active region. Techniques for checkpoint 1.2 provides further information on how to achieve this.
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1.5 Until user agents render text equivalents for client-side image map links…
WCAG 1.0: " (Priority 3) Until user agents render text equivalents for client-side image map links, provide redundant text links for each active region of a client-side image map."
Possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS and NON-TEXT_ALTERNATIVES.
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2.1 (Priority 1) Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color…
WCAG 1.0: "Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. "
USE_OF_COLOR covers this checkpoint.
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2.2 (Priority 2 and 3) Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast…
WCAG 1.0: "Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having color deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen (for images). [Priority 2 for images, Priority 3 for text]"
Partially covered by COLOR_CONTRAST and BACKGROUND_IMAGE_READABILITY.
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3.1 (Priority 2) When an appropriate markup language exists, use markup…
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3.2 (Priority 2) Create documents that validate to published formal grammars.
WCAG 1.0: "Create documents that validate to published formal grammars."
VALID_MARKUP covers this checkpoint.
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3.3 (Priority 2) Use style sheets to control layout and presentation.
WCAG 1.0: "Use style sheets to control layout and presentation."
STYLE_SHEETS_USE covers this checkpoint.
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3.4 (Priority 2) Use relative rather than absolute units in markup language attribute values…
WCAG 1.0: "Use relative rather than absolute units in markup language attribute values and style sheet property values."
MEASURES covers this checkpoint.
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3.5 (Priority 2) Use header elements to convey document structure…
WCAG 1.0: "Use header elements to convey document structure and use them according to specification."
STRUCTURE covers this checkpoint.
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5.2 (Priority 1) For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers…
WCAG 1.0: " (Priority 1) For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers, use markup to associate data cells and header cells."
possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT, TABLES_NESTED and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
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5.3 (Priority 2) Do not use tables for layout unless….
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5.4 (Priority 2) If a table is used for layout, do not use any structural markup for the purpose of visual formatting.
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5.5 (Priority 3) Provide summaries for tables
WCAG 1.0: "Provide summaries for tables. For example, in HTML, use the "summary" attribute of the TABLE element.
Possibly covered by TABLES_SUPPORT and TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
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5.6 (Priority 3) Provide abbreviations for header labels.
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6.1 (Priority 1) Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets.
WCAG 1.0: "Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets. For example, when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it must still be possible to read the document."
STYLE_SHEETS_SUPPORT covers this checkpoint.
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6.2 (Priority 1) Ensure that equivalents for dynamic content are updated when the dynamic content changes.
WCAG 1.0: "Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets. For example, when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it must still be possible to read the document."
Possibly partially covered by OBJECTS_OR_SCRIPT.
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6.3 (Priority 1) Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported…
WCAG 1.0: "Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If this is not possible, provide equivalent information on an alternative accessible page."
OBJECTS_OR_SCRIPT covers this checkpoint.
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7.4 (Priority 2) Until user agents provide the ability to stop the refresh, do not create periodically auto-refreshing pages.
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents provide the ability to stop the refresh, do not create periodically auto-refreshing pages."
Possibly covered by AUTO_REFRESH.
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7.5 (Priority 2) Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, do not use markup to redirect pages automatically…
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, do not use markup to redirect pages automatically. Instead, configure the server to perform redirects"
REDIRECTION covers this checkpoint.
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9.1 (Priority 1) Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps…
WCAG 1.0: "Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape."
Possibly covered by IMAGE_MAPS.
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9.4 (Priority 3) Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects
WCAG 1.0: "Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects"
TAB_ORDER covers this checkpoint.
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9.5 (Priority 3) Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links…
WCAG 1.0: "Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls"
MINIMIZE_KEYSTROKES covers this checkpoint.
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10.1 (Priority 2) Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear…
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user"
POP_UPS covers this checkpoint.
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10.2 (Priority 2) Until user agents support explicit associations between labels…
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents support explicit associations between labels and form controls, for all form controls with implicitly associated labels, ensure that the label is properly positioned."
Partially covered by CONTROL_POSITION.
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10.3 (Priority 3) Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render side-by-side text correctly…
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render side-by-side text correctly, provide a linear text alternative (on the current page or some other) for all tables that lay out text in parallel, word-wrapped columns."
Possibly partially covered TABLES_ALTERNATIVES.
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10.4 (Priority 3) Until user agents handle empty controls correctly…
WCAG 1.0: "Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default, place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas"
PROVIDE_DEFAULTS covers this checkpoint.
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11.1 (Priority 2) Use W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task…
WCAG 1.0: "Use W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task and use the latest versions when supported"
Possibly partially covered by VALID_MARKUP.
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11.2 (Priority 2) Avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies
WCAG 1.0: "Avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies"
Possibly partially covered by VALID_MARKUP and partially covered by FONTS.
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12.1 (Priority 1) Title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation.
WCAG 1.0: "Title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation"
Possibly covered by NO_FRAMES.
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12.2 (Priority 2) Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other…
WCAG 1.0: "Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other if it is not obvious by frame titles alone."
Possibly covered by NO_FRAMES.
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WCAG 1.0: "Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate"
Partially covered by PAGE_SIZE_USABLE.
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12.4 (Priority 2) Associate labels explicitly with their controls
WCAG 1.0: "Associate labels explicitly with their controls"
CONTROL_LABELLING covers this checkpoint.
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13.1 (Priority 2) Clearly identify the target of each link
WCAG 1.0: "Clearly identify the target of each link"
Partially covered by LINK_TARGET_ID.
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WCAG 1.0: "Provide metadata to add semantic information to pages and sites"
Partially covered by PAGE_TITLE.
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13.4 (Priority 2) Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner
WCAG 1.0: "Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner"
NAVIGATION covers this checkpoint.
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13.5 (Priority 3) Provide navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism
WCAG 1.0: "Provide navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism"
Possibly NAVBAR covers this checkpoint.
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13.6 (Priority 3) Group related links, identify the group (for user agents)…
WCAG 1.0: "Group related links, identify the group (for user agents), and, until user agents do so, provide a way to bypass the group"
Possibly NAVBAR and partially possibly CENTRAL_MEANING.
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13.8 (Priority 3) Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.
WCAG 1.0: "Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc."
CLARITY covers this checkpoint.
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14.1 (Priority 1) Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content
WCAG 1.0: "Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content."
Partially covered by CLARITY.
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