[Draft] WCAG 2.0 Quick Reference

A customizable list of WCAG 2.0 requirements (success criteria) and techniques

Editor's Draft May-November 2007

Introduction

See the Overview of WCAG 2.0 Documents for an introduction to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and supporting documents.

This Quick Reference is based on the May-November 2007 WCAG 2.0 draft. It lists all of the requirements (called "success criteria") in WCAG 2.0, along with techniques to meet the requirements. You can customize this Quick Reference to list only the information that you are interested in.

To use the Quick Reference:

  • In the Customizing section below, check the technologies and conformance levels you are interested in.
  • The [Understanding Guideline x] and [Understanding Success Criterion x.x.x] links take you to the relevant section of the Understanding WCAG 2.0 document, which explains the intent of the guidelines and success criteria; provides examples and techniques; and describes how they help people with different disabilities.

Note that all techniques are informative. The "sufficient techniques" listed below are considered sufficient by the WCAG Working Group to meet the success criteria. However, it is not necessary to use these particular techniques. If techniques are used other than those listed by the Working Group, then some other method for establishing the technique's ability to meet the success criteria would be needed. In addition to the 'sufficient techniques', there are also advisory techniques that go beyond WCAG 2.0's requirements. Even content that completely conforms to WCAG will not be fully accessible to every person with a disability, especially people with language, learning, and cognitive disabilities, or multiple severe disabilities. Anyone can submit new techniques to the Working Group at any time. Please see Important New Terms Used in WCAG 2.0 for more information about sufficient techniques and advisory techniques.

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Table of Contents

WCAG 2.0 Quick Reference

Guideline 1.1 Text Alternatives: Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler languageUnderstanding Guideline 1.1

1.1.1 Non-text Content: All non-text content has a text alternative that presents equivalent information, except for the situations listed below. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.1.1

  • Controls, Input: If it is a control or accepts user input, then it has a name that describes its purpose. (See also Guideline 4.1.)

  • Media, Test, Sensory: If it is (1) synchronized media, (2) live audio-only or live video-only content, (3) a test or exercise that must be presented in non-text format, (4) primarily intended to create a specific sensory experience, then text alternatives at least provide descriptive identification of the non-text content , or (5) a media alternative to text that is clearly labeled as such . (For synchronized media, see also Guideline 1.2.)

    Note: Prerecorded audio-only and video-only files would be covered under Success Criterion 1.1.1, which requires text alternatives that present equivalent information.

  • CAPTCHA: If it is to confirm that content is being accessed by a person rather than a computer, then text alternatives that identify and describe the purpose of the non-text content are provided, and alternative forms of CAPTCHA using output modes for different types of sensory perception are provided to accommodate different disabilities.

  • Decoration, Formatting, Invisible: If it is pure decoration, or used only for visual formatting, or if it is not presented to users, then it is implemented in a way that it can be ignored by assistive technology.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.1.1 [Non-text Content] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If a short description can serve the same purpose and present the same information as the non-text content:

  1. G94: Providing short text alternative for non-text content that serves the same purpose and presents the same information as the non-text content using a short text alternative technique listed below

Situation B: If a short description can not serve the same purpose and present the same information as the non-text content (e.g. a chart or diagram):

  1. G95: Providing short text alternatives that provide a brief description of the non-text content using a short text alternative technique listed below AND one of the following techniques for long description:

Situation C: If non-text content is a control or accepts user input:

  1. G82: Providing a text alternative that identifies the purpose of the non-text content using a short text alternative technique listed below

  2. Using HTML form controls and links (future link)

  3. H44: Using label elements to associate text labels with form controls (HTML)

  4. H65: Using the title attribute to identify form controls when the label element cannot be used (HTML)

  5. Using (X)HTML according to spec (future link)

Situation D: If non-text content is synchronized media; live audio-only or live video-only content; a test or exercise that must use a particular sense; or primarily intended to create a specific sensory experience:

  1. Providing a descriptive label using a short text alternative technique listed below

  2. G68: Providing a descriptive label that describes the purpose of live audio-only and live video-only content using a short text alternative technique listed below

  3. G100: Providing the accepted name or a descriptive name of the non-text content using a short text alternative technique listed below

Situation E: If non-text content is a CAPTCHA:

  1. G143: Providing a text alternative that describes the purpose of the CAPTCHA AND G144: Ensuring that the Web Page contains another CAPTCHA serving the same purpose using a different modality

Situation F: If the non-text content should be ignored by assistive technology:

  1. Implementing or marking the non-text content so that it will be ignored by assistive technology using one of the technology-specific techniques listed below

Short text alternative techniques for use in sufficient techniques above

  1. H36: Using alt attributes on images used as submit buttons (HTML)

  2. H2: Combining adjacent image and text links for the same resource (HTML)

  3. H37: Using alt attributes on img elements (HTML)

  4. H35: Providing text alternatives on applet elements (HTML)

  5. H53: Using the body of the object element (HTML)

  6. H24: Providing text alternatives for the area elements of image maps (HTML)

  7. Providing text alternatives for strings where look-alike glyphs are used in place of letters (e.g. leetspeak) (future link)

  8. Providing text alternatives for ASCII art (future link)

Long text alternative techniques for use in sufficient techniques above

  1. H45: Using longdesc (HTML)

  2. H53: Using the body of the object element (HTML)

Advisory Techniques for 1.1.1 [Non-text Content]
General Techniques for Informative Non-Text Content (Advisory)

  • Identifying informative non-text content (future link)

  • Keeping short descriptions short (future link)

  • Describing images that include text (future link)

  • Providing a longer description of the non-text content where only a descriptive label is required using a technology-specific technique (for an accessibility-supported content technology) for long description listed above (future link)

  • Providing different sizes for non-text content when it cannot have an equivalent accessible alternative (future link)

  • Using server-side scripts to resize images of text (future link)

General Techniques for Live Non-Text Content (Advisory)

  • Linking to textual information that provides comparable information (e.g. for a traffic Webcam, a municipality could provide a link to the text traffic report.) (future link)

  • Providing a transcript of a live audio only presentation after the fact (future link)

General techniques to minimize the barrier of CAPTCHAs

  • Providing more than two modalities of CAPTCHAs (future link)

  • Providing access to a human customer service representative who can bypass CAPTCHA (future link)

  • Not requiring CAPTCHAs for authorized users (future link)

HTML Techniques (Advisory)
CSS Techniques (Advisory)

  • Using CSS margin and padding rules instead of spacer images (future link)

  • Using CSS background, :before or :after rules for decorative images instead of img elements (future link)

  • Displaying empty table cells (future link)

ARIA Techniques (Advisory)

  • Using the ARIA presentation role to indicate elements are purely presentational (future link)

Metadata techniques (Advisory)

  • Using metadata to associate text transcriptions with a video (future link)

  • Using metadata to associate text transcriptions with audio-only content (future link)

    • EXAMPLE: Providing, in metadata, URL(s) that points to an audio description and a text transcript of a video.

    • EXAMPLE: Providing, in metadata, URL(s) that point to several text transcripts (English, French, Dutch) of an audio file.

Failures for SC 1.1.1 [Non-text Content]

1.1.2 Live Audio-only: All live audio-only content has a text alternative (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.1.2

Sufficient Techniques for 1.1.2 [Live Audio-only] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Providing a viewport to a live text service which is being created by a trained stenographer who transcribes the spoken audio with minimal errors (future link)

  2. Providing a link to a text transcript of a prepared statement or script if the script is followed (future link)

  3. G150: Providing text alternatives for live audio-only content

Advisory Techniques for 1.1.2 [Live Audio-only]
Metadata Techniques

  • Using metadata to associate text transcriptions with audio-only content (future link)

    • EXAMPLE: Providing, in metadata, URL(s) that point to several text transcripts (English, French, Dutch) of an audio file.

Guideline 1.2 Synchronized Media: Provide synchronized alternatives for synchronized mediaUnderstanding Guideline 1.2

1.2.1 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions are provided for prerecorded synchronized media, except if the synchronized media is an alternative to text and is clearly labeled as such . (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.1

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.1 [Captions (Prerecorded)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G93: Providing open (always visible) captions

  2. G87: Providing closed captions using any readily available media format that has a video player that supports closed captioning

  3. G87: Providing closed captions using any of the technology-specific techniques below

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.1 [Captions (Prerecorded)]

  • Providing a note saying "No sound is used in this clip" for video-only clips (future link)

  • Using SMIL 1.0 to provide captions for all languages for which there are audio tracks (future link)

  • Using SMIL 2.0 to provide captions for all languages for which there are audio tracks (future link)

Failures for SC 1.2.1 [Captions (Prerecorded)]

1.2.2 Audio Description or Full Text Alternative: Audio description of video, or a full text alternative for synchronized media including any interaction , is provided for prerecorded synchronized media. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.2

Note: For 1.2.2, 1.2.4, and 1.2.7, if all of the information in the video track is already provided in the audio track, no audio description is necessary.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.2 [Audio Description or Full Text Alternative] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G69: Providing a full synchronized media text alternative including any interaction

  2. G78: Providing a sound track that includes audio description as the primary sound track

  3. G78: Providing a sound track that includes audio description AND associating it with the synchronized media content using one of the following techniques:

  4. Providing audio description in its own sound track (future link) AND merging the description track with the original soundtrack of the synchronized media content at runtime using one of the following techniques

    • Using SMIL 1.0 to merge a description track with sound track (future link)

    • Using SMIL 2.0 to merge a description track with sound track (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.2 [Audio Description or Full Text Alternative]

  • Providing audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 1.0 (future link)

  • Providing audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 2.0 (future link)

1.2.3 Captions (Live): Captions are provided for live synchronized media. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.3

Note: If synchronized media is completely computer generated, it is not live and is subject to the requirements for prerecorded synchronized media in WCAG 2.0.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.3 [Captions (Live)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G9: Creating captions for live synchronized media AND G93: Providing open (always visible) captions

  2. G9: Creating captions for live synchronized media AND G87: Providing closed captions using any readily available media format that has a video player that supports closed captioning

  3. G9: Creating captions for live synchronized media AND G87: Providing closed captions using one of the following techniques:

Note: Captions may be generated using real-time text translation service.

1.2.4 Audio Description: Audio description of video is provided for prerecorded synchronized media. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.4

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.4 [Audio Description] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G78: Providing a sound track that includes audio description as the primary sound track

  2. G78: Providing a sound track that includes audio description AND associating it with the synchronized media content using one of the following techniques:

  3. Providing audio description in its own sound track (future link) AND merging the description track with the original soundtrack of the synchronized media content at runtime using one of the following techniques

    • Using SMIL 1.0 to merge a description track with sound track (future link)

    • Using SMIL 2.0 to merge a description track with sound track (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.4 [Audio Description]

  • Providing audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 1.0 (future link)

  • Providing audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 2.0 (future link)

  • Providing audio description for live synchronized media (future link)

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.5 [Sign Language] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G54: Including a sign language interpreter in the video stream

  2. Providing a new page that has the video with the sign language interpretation of the audio track (future link)

  3. G81: Providing a synchronized video of the sign language interpreter that can be displayed in a different viewport or overlaid on the image by the player using one of the following techniques

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.5 [Sign Language]
Metadata Techniques

  • Using metadata to associate sign language alternatives of a video to enable choice of sign language (future link)

    • EXAMPLE: Providing, in metadata, URL(s) that point to several English sign language translations (ASL, SASL, BSL, Auslan, ISL, NZSL) of a web page.

1.2.6 Audio Description (Extended): Extended audio description of video is provided for prerecorded synchronized media. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.6

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.6 [Audio Description (Extended)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Providing a second version of the movie with extended audio descriptions during halted video segments (future link)

  2. G8: Creating an extended audio description for the synchronized media content using one of the following techniques

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.6 [Audio Description (Extended)]

  • Adding extended audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 1.0 (future link)

  • Adding extended audio description in multiple languages in SMIL 2.0 (future link)

1.2.7 Full Text Alternative: A full text alternative for synchronized media including any interaction is provided for all prerecorded synchronized media, except if the synchronized media is an alternative to text and is clearly labeled as such . (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.7

Sufficient Techniques for 1.2.7 [Full Text Alternative] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G69: Providing a full synchronized media text alternative including any interaction using one of the following techniques

Advisory Techniques for 1.2.7 [Full Text Alternative]

Guideline 1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout ) without losing information or structureUnderstanding Guideline 1.3

1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.1

Sufficient Techniques for 1.3.1 [Info and Relationships] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: The technology provides semantic structure to make information and relationships conveyed through presentation programmatically determinable:

  1. G115: Using semantic elements to mark up structure AND H49: Using semantic markup to mark emphasized or special text (HTML)

  2. G117: Using text to convey information that is conveyed by variations in presentation of text

  3. Separating information and structure from presentation to enable modification of presentation without altering content (future link)

  4. Making information and relationships conveyed through presentation programmatically determinable using the following techniques:

Situation B: The technology in use does NOT provide the semantic structure to make the information and relationships conveyed through presentation programmatically determinable:

  1. G117: Using text to convey information that is conveyed by variations in presentation of text

  2. Making information and relationships conveyed through presentation programmatically determinable or available in text using the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 1.3.1 [Info and Relationships]
Failures for SC 1.3.1 [Info and Relationships]

1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence: When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined . (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.2

Sufficient Techniques for 1.3.2 [Meaningful Sequence] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G57: Ordering the content in a meaningful sequence for all the content in the Web page

  2. Marking sequences in the content as meaningful using one of the following techniques AND G57: Ordering the content in a meaningful sequence for those sequences

Advisory Techniques for 1.3.2 [Meaningful Sequence]

  • Using left-justified text for languages that are written left to right and right-justified text for languages that are written right-to-left (future link)

  • Using appropriate justification for languages that are written right-to-left (future link)

  • Providing a link to linearized rendering (future link)

  • Providing a style switcher between style sheets that affect presentation order (future link)

Failures for SC 1.3.2 [Meaningful Sequence]

1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics: Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, size, visual location, orientation or sound. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.3

Sufficient Techniques for 1.3.3 [Sensory Characteristics] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G96: Providing textual identification of items that otherwise rely only on sensory information to be understood

Advisory Techniques for 1.3.3 [Sensory Characteristics]

  • Using an image with a text alternative for graphical symbols instead of a Unicode font glyph with the desired graphical appearance but different meaning (future link)

Failures for SC 1.3.3 [Sensory Characteristics]

Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background Understanding Guideline 1.4

1.4.1 Use of Color: Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.1

Note 1: This success criterion addresses color perception specifically. Other forms of perception are covered in Guideline 1.3.

Note 2: Programmatic access to color and other visual presentation coding is covered in Guideline 1.3.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.1 [Use of Color] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If the color of particular words is used to indicate information:

  1. G14: Ensuring that information conveyed by color differences is also available in text

  2. G122: Including a text cue whenever color cues are used

  3. Ensuring that when text color differences are used to convey information, the text style is visually differentiated without color differences (future link)

  4. Conveying all information in text that is conveyed by color differences (future link)

Situation B: If color is used within an image to convey information:

  1. G111: Using color and pattern

  2. G14: Ensuring that information conveyed by color differences is also available in text

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.1 [Use of Color]
Failures for SC 1.4.1 [Use of Color]

1.4.2 Audio Control: If any audio on a Web page plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, either a mechanism is available to pause or stop the audio, or a mechanism is available to control audio volume which can be set to be a different level from the system volume level . (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.2

Note: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether it is used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See Conformance Requirement 5: Non-Interference.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.2 [Audio Control] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G60: Playing a sound that turns off automatically within three seconds

  2. Playing sounds only on user request (future link)

  3. Providing a control near the top of the Web page that turns off sounds that play automatically (future link)

  4. Providing a user interface control to pause or stop synchronized media (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.2 [Audio Control]

  • Providing a sitewide preference to turn off audio in addition to providing a control near the top of the Web page that turns off sounds that play automatically (future link)

Failures for SC 1.4.2 [Audio Control]

1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum): Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 5:1, except for the following: (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3

  • Large Print: Large-scale text and large-scale images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1;

  • Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are incidental text in an image, or that are not visible to anyone, have no minimum contrast requirement.

Note: Success Criteria 1.4.3 and 1.4.6 can be met via a contrast control available on or from the page.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.3 [Contrast (Minimum)] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: text is less than 18 point if not bold and less than 14 point if bold

  1. G18: Ensuring that a contrast ratio of at least 5:1 exists between text (and images of text) and background behind the text

  2. G148: Not specifying background color, not specifying text color, and not using technology features that change those defaults

Situation B: text is as least 18 point if not bold and at least 14 point if bold

  1. G145: Ensuring that a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 exists between text (and images of text) and background behind the text

  2. G148: Not specifying background color, not specifying text color, and not using technology features that change those defaults

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.3 [Contrast (Minimum)]

  • Using a higher contrast value for text that is over a patterned background (future link)

  • Using a light pastel background rather than a white background behind black text (future link)

  • Using Unicode text and style sheets instead of images of text (future link)

  • Using a higher contrast values for lines in diagrams (future link)

  • Using greater contrast level for red-black text/background combinations

  • Using colors that are composed predominantly of mid spectral components for the light and spectral extremes (blue and red wavelengths) for the dark

  • Using a light pastel background rather than a white background behind black text to create sufficient but not extreme contrast (future link)

  • Making icons using simple line drawings that meet the contrast provisions for text (future link)

  • Providing sufficient color contrast in graphs and charts (future link)

Failures for SC 1.4.3 [Contrast (Minimum)]

1.4.4 Resize text: Text (but not images of text) can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.4

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.4 [Resize text] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G142: Using a technology that has commonly-available user agents that support zoom

  2. Ensuring that text containers resize when the text resizes AND using measurements that are relative to other measurements in the content by using one or more of the following techniques:

  3. Providing controls on the Web page that incrementally change the size of the text (future link)

  4. Providing options within the content to switch between layouts that use a variety of font sizes (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.4 [Resize text]

  • Providing large fonts by default (future link)

  • Using page-percent for container sizes (future link)

  • Avoiding scaling font sizes smaller than the user-agent default (future link)

    Note: The author won't actually know the font size, but should avoid percentage scaling that results in less than 100%

  • Avoiding justified text (future link)

  • Providing sufficient inter-line and inter-column spacing (future link)

  • Providing different sizes for non-text content when it cannot have an equivalent accessible alternative (future link)

  • Avoiding the use of text in raster images (future link)

  • Using server-side scripts to resize images of text (future link)

  • C17: Scaling form elements which contain text (CSS)

  • Ensuring that text in raster images is at least 18pt (future link)

  • Scaling text down to 50% (future link)

Failures for SC 1.4.4 [Resize text]

1.4.5 Images of Text (Limited): When the accessibility supported technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text except for the following: (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.5

  • Customizable: The image of text can be visuallycustomized to the user's requirements;

  • Essential: A particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.

Note: Logotypes (text that is part of a logo or brand name) are considered essential.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.5 [Images of Text (Limited)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Using CSS to control visual presentation of text (future link)

  2. Providing controls on the Web page that change the visual presentation of text (future link)

  3. G140: Separating information and structure from presentation so that Web pages can be presented different ways without losing information OR Separating information and structure from presentation to enable modification of presentation without altering content (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.5 [Images of Text (Limited)]
General techniques for non-text content

  1. Identifying informative non-text content (future link)

CSS Techniques

  1. C12: Using percent for font sizes (CSS)

  2. C13: Using named font sizes (CSS)

  3. C14: Using em units for font sizes (CSS)

  4. C8: Using CSS letter-spacing to control spacing within a word (CSS)

  5. C6: Positioning content based on structural markup (CSS)

  6. Avoid applying text styling to text characters within a word (future link)

  7. Changing line height (future link)

  8. Specifying the font family (future link)

  9. Changing letter-spacing (future link)

  10. Aligning text (future link)

  11. Changing the case of text (future link)

  12. Indenting paragraphs (future link)

  13. Layering text over images (future link)

  14. Italicizing text (future link)

  15. Increasing font weight of text (future link)

  16. Styling the first line of a block of text (future link)

  17. Styling the first letter of a block of text (future link)

  18. Adding a drop-shadow to text (future link)

1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced): Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, except for the following: (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.6

  • Large Print: Large-scale text and large-scale images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 5:1;

  • Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are incidental text in an image, or that are not visible to anyone, have no minimum contrast requirement.

Note: Success Criteria 1.4.3 and 1.4.6 can be met via a contrast control available on or from the page.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.6 [Contrast (Enhanced)] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: text is less than 18 point if not bold and less than 14 point if bold

  1. G17: Ensuring that a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 exists between text (and images of text) and background behind the text

  2. G148: Not specifying background color, not specifying text color, and not using technology features that change those defaults

Situation B: text is as least 18 point if not bold and at least 14 point if bold

  1. G18: Ensuring that a contrast ratio of at least 5:1 exists between text (and images of text) and background behind the text

  2. G148: Not specifying background color, not specifying text color, and not using technology features that change those defaults

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.6 [Contrast (Enhanced)]

  • Using a higher contrast value for text that is over a patterned background (future link)

  • Using Unicode text and style sheets instead of images of text (future link)

  • Using a light pastel background rather than a white background behind black text (future link)

  • Using a higher contrast values for lines in diagrams (future link)

  • Using greater contrast level for red-black text/background combinations

  • Using colors that are composed predominantly of mid spectral components for the light and spectral extremes (blue and red wavelengths) for the dark

  • Using a light pastel background rather than a white background behind black text to create sufficient but not extreme contrast (future link)

  • Making icons using simple line drawings that meet the contrast provisions for text (future link)

  • Providing sufficient color contrast in graphs and charts (future link)

Failures for SC 1.4.6 [Contrast (Enhanced)]

1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio: Audio content that is not an audio CAPTCHA and that contains speech in the foreground does not contain background sounds, background sounds can be turned off, or background sounds are at least 20 decibels lower than the foreground speech content, with the exception of occasional sound effects. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.7

Note: Background sound that meets this requirement will be approximately one quarter as loud as the foreground speech content.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.6 [Low or No Background Audio] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G56: Mixing audio files so that non-speech sounds are at least 20 decibels lower than the speech audio content

  2. Not including audio content (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.6 [Low or No Background Audio]

  • Providing a way for users to adjust auditory levels of foreground and background sound independently (future link)

1.4.8 Visual Presentation: For the visual presentation of blocks of text, a mechanism is available to achieve the following: (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.8

  • foreground and background colors can be selected by the user

  • width is no more than 80 characters

  • text is not aligned on both the left and the right

  • line spacing is at least space-and-a-half within paragraphs, and paragraph spacing is larger than line spacing

  • text is resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent in a way that does not require the user to scroll horizontally to read a line of text

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.7 [Visual Presentation] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Techniques to ensure foreground and background colors can be selected by the user

    • Specifying foreground and background colors in CSS (future link) OR

    • Providing a color selection tool that allows a pastel background (future link) OR

    • Providing a multi color selection tool on the page for foreground and background colors (JavaScript, Future Link) OR

    • Using a technology that has commonly-available user agents that can change the foreground and background of blocks of text (General, future link)

  2. Techniques to ensure width is no more than 80 characters

    • Not interfering with the user agent's reflow of text as the viewing window is narrowed (General, Future Link) OR

    • Using ems to set the column width

  3. Techniques to ensure text is not aligned on both the left and the right

    • Specifying alignment in CSS (CSS) (also allows for tools that use custom stylesheets) OR

    • Providing a feature to remove full justification of text (future link) OR

    • Aligning text on only one side (according to the text-direction of the language of the content) (General, future link)

  4. Techniques to ensure line spacing is at least space-and-a-half within paragraphs, and paragraph spacing is larger than line spacing

    • Providing a button on the page to increase line spaces and paragraph spaces. (HTML, CSS, future link) OR

    • Specifying line spacing in CSS or not specifying any line spacing (HTML, CSS, future link)

  5. Techniques to ensure text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent in a way that does not require the user to scroll horizontally to read a line of text

    • Not interfering with the browser's reflow of text as the viewing window is narrowed (General, Future Link) OR

    • G146: Using liquid layout AND using measurements that are relative to other measurements in the content by using one or more of the following techniques:

    • Providing options within the content to switch between layouts that use a variety of font sizes (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.7 [Visual Presentation]

  • Using a hover effect to highlight a paragraph, list items, or table cells (HTML, CSS) (future link)

  • Presenting text in sans serif font or providing a mechanism to achieve this (CSS) (future link)

  • Using vertical (bulleted or numbered) lists rather than inline lists (future link)

  • Using upper and lower case according to the spelling conventions of the text language (future link)

  • Providing large fonts by default (future link)

  • Avoiding the use of text in raster images (future link)

  • Avoiding scaling font sizes smaller than the user-agent default (future link)

  • Providing sufficient inter-column spacing (future link)

  • Avoiding centrally aligned text (future link)

  • Avoiding chunks of italic text (future link)

  • Avoiding overuse of different styles on individual pages and in sites (future link)

  • Making links visually distinct (future link)

  • Providing expandable bullets (future link)

  • Show/hide bullet points (future link)

  • Putting an em-space or two spaces after sentences (future link)

1.4.9 Images of Text (Essential): Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.9

Note: Logotypes (text that is part of a logo or brand name) are considered essential.

Sufficient Techniques for 1.4.8 [Images of Text (Essential)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Using CSS to control visual presentation of text (future link)

  2. Providing controls on the Web page that change the visual presentation of text (future link)

  3. G140: Separating information and structure from presentation so that Web pages can be presented different ways without losing information OR Separating information and structure from presentation to enable modification of presentation without altering content (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 1.4.8 [Images of Text (Essential)]
General Techniques for Non-Decorative Content

  • Using server-side scripts to resize images of text (future link)

CSS Techniques

Guideline 2.1 Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard Understanding Guideline 2.1

2.1.1 Keyboard: All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user's movement and not just the endpoints. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 2.1.1

Note 1: This exception relates to the underlying function, not the input technique. For example, if using handwriting to enter text, the input technique (handwriting) requires path dependent input but the underlying function (text input) does not.

Note 2: This does not forbid and should not discourage providing mouse input or other input methods in addition to keyboard operation.

Sufficient Techniques for 2.1.1 [Keyboard] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Ensuring keyboard control by using one of the following techniques.

    • Using HTML form controls and links (future link)

  2. G90: Providing keyboard-triggered event handlers using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 2.1.1 [Keyboard]

  • Providing keyboard access to important links and form controls (future link)

  • Using unique letter combinations to begin each item of a list (future link)

  • Choosing the most abstract event handler (future link) (Scripting)

  • Using the onactivate event (future link) (Scripting)

  • Avoiding use of common user-agent keyboard commands for other purposes (future link)

Failures for SC 2.1.1 [Keyboard]

2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap: If keyboard focus can be moved to a component of the page using a keyboard interface, then focus can be moved away from that component using only a keyboard interface, and, if it requires more than unmodified arrow or tab keys, the user is advised of the method for moving focus away. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 2.1.2

Note: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether it is used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See Conformance Requirement 5: Non-Interference.

Sufficient Techniques for 2.1.2 [No Keyboard Trap] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G21: Ensuring that users are not trapped in content

2.1.3 Keyboard (No Exception): All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.1.3

Sufficient Techniques for 2.1.3 [Keyboard (No Exception)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. No additional techniques exist for this Success Criterion. Follow techniques for Success Criterion 2.1.1 . If that is not possible because there is a requirement for analog, time-dependent input, then it is not possible to meet this Level AAA Success Criterion.

Guideline 2.2 Enough Time: Provide users with disabilities enough time to read and use content Understanding Guideline 2.2

2.2.1 Timing Adjustable: For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true: (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.1

  • Turn off: the user is allowed to turn off the time limit before encountering it; or

  • Adjust: the user is allowed to adjust the time limit before encountering it over a wide range that is at least ten times the length of the default setting; or

  • Extend: the user is warned before time expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend the time limit with a simple action (for example, "press the space bar "), and the user is allowed to extend the time limit at least ten times; or

  • Real-time Exception: the time limit is a required part of a real-time event (for example, an auction), and no alternative to the time limit is possible; or

  • Essential Exception: the time limit cannot be extended without invalidating the activity; or

  • 20 Hour Exception: the time limit is longer than 20 hours.

Note: This success criterion acts to ensure that changes in content or context as a result of a time limit will not occur unexpectedly, preventing users from completing tasks. While exceptions to success criterion 2.2.1 where timing is essential exist, guideline 2.2 in general limits changes in content for no reason. This success criterion should be considered in conjunction with Success Criterion 3.2.1 which puts limits on changes of content or context as a result of user action.

Sufficient Techniques for 2.2.1 [Timing Adjustable] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If there are session time limits:

  1. G133: Providing a checkbox on the first page of a multipart form that allows users to ask for longer session time limit or no session time limit

Situation B: If a time limit is controlled by a script on the page:

  1. Providing a way for the user to turn the time limit off (future link)

  2. Providing the user with a means to set the time limit to 10 times the default time limit (future link)

  3. SCR16: Providing a script that warns the user a time limit is about to expire (Scripting) AND SCR1: Allowing the user to extend the default time limit (Scripting)

Advisory Techniques for 2.2.1 [Timing Adjustable]

  • Using a script to poll the server and notify a user if a time limit is present (future link) (Scripting)

Failures for SC 2.2.1 [Timing Adjustable]

2.2.2 Pausing: Moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information on a Web page that lasts for more than three seconds can be paused by the user unless the movement, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating is part of an activity where the changes are essential. Moving or blinking content that is pure decoration can be stopped or hidden by the user. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.2

Note 1: For requirements related to flickering or flashing content, refer to Guideline 2.3.

Note 2: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether it is used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See Conformance Requirement 5: Non-Interference.

Note 3: Content that is updated from a process, real-time or remote stream is not required to preserve or present information that is generated or received between the initiation of the pause and resuming presentation, as this may not be technically possible, and in many situations could be misleading to do so.

Sufficient Techniques for 2.2.2 [Pausing] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G4: Allowing the content to be paused and restarted from where it was stopped

  2. Using script to scroll content, and providing a mechanism to pause it (future link)

  3. Allowing purely decorative content to be stopped (future link)

  4. G11: Creating content that blinks for less than 3 seconds

  5. Using a technology to include blinking content that can be turned off via the user agent (future link)

  6. Using a control in the Web page that stops blinking content (future link) using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 2.2.2 [Pausing]

  • Providing a mechanism to stop all content that blinks within a Web page (future link)

  • Providing the user with a means to stop moving content even if it stops automatically within 3 seconds (future link)

Failures for SC 2.2.2 [Pausing]

2.2.3 No Timing: Timing is not an essential part of the event or activity presented by the content, except for non-interactive synchronized media and real-time events. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.3

Sufficient Techniques for 2.2.3 [No Timing] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G5: Allowing users to complete an activity without any time limit

2.2.4 Interruptions: Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed by the user, except interruptions involving an emergency. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.4

Sufficient Techniques for 2.2.4 [Interruptions] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G75: Providing a mechanism to postpone any updating of content

  2. Allowing users to request updates instead of automatically updating content (future link)

  3. SCR14: Using scripts to make nonessential alerts optional (Scripting)

Failures for SC 2.2.4 [Interruptions]

2.2.5 Re-authenticating: When an authenticated session expires, the user can continue the activity without loss of data after re-authenticating. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.5

Sufficient Techniques for 2.2.5 [Re-authenticating] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Providing options to continue without loss of data using one of the following techniques:

Note: Refer to Techniques for Addressing Success Criterion 2.2.1 for techniques related to providing notifications about time limits.

Failures for SC 2.2.5 [Re-authenticating]

Guideline 2.3 Seizures: Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures Understanding Guideline 2.3

2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold: Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 2.3.1

Note: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether it is used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See Conformance Requirement 5: Non-Interference.

Sufficient Techniques for 2.3.1 [Three Flashes or Below Threshold] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: Web content server over the Internet for general viewing

  1. Using all possible 341 x 256 pixel rectangles on 1024 x 768 pixel display to represent a 10 degree field of view at normal viewing distance AND G15: Ensuring that content does not violate the general flash threshold or red flash threshold

    Note: There is a tool that is available to carry out this test.

  2. G19: Ensuring that no component of the content flashes more than three times in any 1-second period

Situation B: Web content designed for a specific large-scale display where size and viewing distance is known

  1. Using actual viewing distance to calculate a 10 degree field of view in pixels AND G15: Ensuring that content does not violate the general flash threshold or red flash threshold

    Note: There is a tool that is available to carry out this test.

  2. G19: Ensuring that no component of the content flashes more than three times in any 1-second period

Advisory Techniques for 2.3.1 [Three Flashes or Below Threshold]

  • Reducing contrast for any flashing content (future link)

  • Avoiding fully saturated reds for any flashing content (future link)

  • Reducing the number of flashes even if they do not violate thresholds (future link)

  • Providing a mechanism to suppress any flashing content before it begins (future link)

  • Slowing down live material to avoid rapid flashes (as in flashbulbs) (future link)

  • Freezing the image momentarily if 3 flashes within one second are detected (future link)

  • Dropping the contrast ratio if 3 flashes within one second are detected (future link)

2.3.2 Three Flashes: Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 2.3.2

Sufficient Techniques for 2.3.2 [Three Flashes] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G19: Ensuring that no component of the content flashes more than three times in any 1-second period

Advisory Techniques for 2.3.2 [Three Flashes]

  • Reducing contrast for any flashing content (future link)

  • Avoiding fully saturated reds for any flashing content (future link)

  • Reducing the number of flashes even if they don't violate thresholds (future link)

  • Slowing down live material to avoid rapid flashes (as in flashbulbs) (future link)

  • Freezing the image momentarily if 3 flashes within one second are detected (future link)

  • Dropping the contrast ratio if 3 flashes within one second are detected (future link)

  1. Creating links to skip blocks of repeated material using one of the following techniques:

  2. Grouping blocks of repeated material in a way that can be skipped, using one of the following techniques:

  • Providing keyboard access to important links and form controls (future link)

  • Providing skip links to enhance page navigation (future link)

  • Providing access keys (future link)

  • Using accessibility supported technologies which allow structured navigation by user agents and assistive technologies (future link)

  • C6: Positioning content based on structural markup (CSS)

  1. G88: Providing descriptive titles for Web pages AND associating a title with a Web page using one of the following techniques:

  1. G59: Placing the interactive elements in an order that follows sequences and relationships within the content

  2. Giving focus to elements in an order that follows sequences and relationships within the content using one of the following techniques:

  3. Changing a web page dynamically using one of the following techniques:

  • Providing a highly visible highlighting mechanism for links or controls when they receive keyboard focus (future link)

  • Creating alternative presentation orders (future link)

  1. G91: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link

  2. Allowing the user to choose short or long link text USING one of the technology specific techniques below:

    • Using HTML and page reloads to offer different link texts (future link)

    • Using JavaScript to change the link texts (future link)

  3. G53: Identifying the purpose of a link using link text combined with the text of the enclosing sentence

  4. Providing a supplemental description of the purpose of a link using one of the following techniques:

  5. Identifying the purpose of a link using link text combined with programmatically determined link context using one of the following techniques:

  6. Optimizing Web pages for the "link list" feature in assistive technology (future link)

  1. Using two or more of the following techniques:

  1. G130: Providing descriptive headings

  2. G131: Providing descriptive labels

Note: Headings and labels must be programmatically determined, per success criterion 1.3.1 .

  • Using unique section headings in a Web Page (future link)

  • Starting section headings with unique information (future link)

  1. G149: Using user interface components that are highlighted by the user agent when they receive focus

  2. C15: Using CSS to change the presentation of a user interface component when it receives focus (CSS)

  3. Using the default focus indicator for the platform so that high visibility default focus indicators will carry over (future link)

  4. Using an author-supplied, highly visible focus indicator (future link)

  • Highlighting a link or control when the mouse hovers over it (future link)

  • Providing a highly visible highlighting mechanism for links or controls when they receive keyboard focus (future link)

  1. G65: Providing a breadcrumb trail

  2. G63: Providing a site map

  3. G128: Indicating current location within navigation bars

  4. G127: Identifying a Web page's relationship to a larger collection of Web pages using one of the following techniques:

  • Providing a link to the home page or main page (future link)

  • Providing an easy-to-read version of information about the organization of a set of Web pages (future link)

  • Providing a sign language version of information about the organization of a set of Web pages (future link)

  • Providing an easy-to-read summary at the beginning of each section of content (future link)

  1. G91: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link using one of the following techniques:

  2. Allowing the user to choose short or long link text USING one of the technology specific techniques below:

    • Using HTML and page reloads to offer different link texts (future link)

    • Using JavaScript to change the link texts (future link)

  3. Providing a supplemental description of the purpose of a link using one of the following techniques:

  1. G141: Organizing a page using headings

  • Using the 'live' property to mark live regions (future link) (ARIA)

  • Providing mechanisms to navigate to different sections of the content of a Web page (future link)

Guideline 3.1 Readable: Make text content readable and understandable Understanding Guideline 3.1

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.1 [Language of Page] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Identifying default human language(s) using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.1 [Language of Page]

  • Specifying the default language in the HTTP header (future link)

  • using http or the Content-Language meta tag for metadata (future link)

3.1.2 Language of Parts: The human language of each passage or phrase in the content can be programmatically determined except for proper names, technical terms, words of indeterminate language, and words or phrases that have become part of the vernacular of the immediately surrounding text. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.2

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.2 [Language of Parts] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Identifying changes in human languages using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.2 [Language of Parts]

  • Making text that is not in the default human language of the Web page visually distinct (future link)

  • Giving the names of any languages used in foreign passages or phrases (future link)

3.1.3 Unusual Words: A mechanism is available for identifying specific definitions of words or phrases used in an unusual or restricted way, including idioms and jargon. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.3

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.3 [Unusual Words] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If the word or phrase has a unique meaning within the Web page:

  1. G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way for the first occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

  2. G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way for each occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

Situation B: If the word or phrase means different things within the same Web page:

  1. G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way for each occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.3 [Unusual Words]

  • Using the title attribute to provide explanations of words or phrases (future link)

  • Using markup and visual formatting to help users recognize words that have special meaning (future link)

  • Providing a voice-enabled dictionary search so that users who have difficulty typing or spelling can speak the word whose definition they need (future link)

  • Providing a sign language dictionary to help users who are deaf find the necessary definitions (future link)

  • Providing a mechanism for finding definitions for all words in text content (future link)

  • Providing a mechanism to determine the meaning of each word or phrase in text content (future link)

  • Avoiding unusual foreign words (future link)

3.1.4 Abbreviations: A mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning of abbreviations is available. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.4

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.4 [Abbreviations] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If the abbreviation has only one meaning within the Web page:

  1. G102: Providing the expansion or explanation of an abbreviation for the first occurrence of the abbreviation in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

  2. G102: Providing the expansion or explanation of an abbreviation for all occurrences of the abbreviation in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

Situation B: If the abbreviation means different things within the same Web page:

  1. G102: Providing the expansion or explanation of an abbreviation for all occurrences of abbreviations in a Web page using one of the following techniques:

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.4 [Abbreviations]

  • Using the title attribute to provide explanations of words or phrases (future link)

  • Using unique abbreviations in a Web page (future link)

  • Using visual formatting to help users recognize abbreviations (future link)

  • Providing access to a talking dictionary to support users who might have difficulty decoding written definitions (future link)

  • Providing a voice-enabled dictionary search so that users who have difficulty typing or spelling can speak the word whose definition they need (future link)

3.1.5 Reading Level: When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, supplemental content or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level is available. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.5

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.5 [Reading Level] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G86: Providing a text summary that requires reading ability less advanced than the upper secondary education level

  2. G103: Providing visual illustrations, pictures, and symbols to help explain ideas, events, and processes

  3. G79: Providing a spoken version of the text

  4. Making the text easier to read (future link)

  5. Providing sign language versions of information, ideas, and processes that must be understood in order to use the content (future link)

Note: Different sites may address this success criterion in different ways. An audio version of the content may be helpful to some users. For some people who are deaf, a sign language version of the page may be easier to understand than a written language version since sign language may be their first language. Some sites may decide to do both or other combinations. No technique will help all users who have difficulty. So different techniques are provided as sufficient techniques here for authors trying to make their sites more accessible. Any numbered technique or combination above can be used by a particular site and it is considered sufficient by the Working Group.

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.5 [Reading Level]

  • Providing text for navigational and landing pages that requires reading ability that is less advanced than the lower secondary education level (future link)

  • Providing text for interior pages that requires reading ability at the lower secondary education level (future link)

  • Including content summaries in metadata (future link)

  • Using the clearest and simplest language appropriate for the content (future link)

  • Using the Dublin Core accessibility element to associate text content with text, graphical, or spoken supplements (future link)

  • Using RDF to associate supplements with primary content (future link)

  • Providing a clear representational image on the site's home page (future link)

  • Making metadata viewable by humans (future link)

  • Clearly marking, by use of text or icon, content which has been optimized for easy reading (future link)

  • Using sentences that contain no redundant words, that is, words that do not change the meaning of the sentence (future link)

  • Using sentences that contain no more than two conjunctions (future link)

  • Using sentences that are no longer then the typical accepted length for secondary education (Note: In English that is 25 words) (future link)

  • Using sentences that do not contain complex words or phrases that could be replaced with more commonly used words without changing the meaning of the sentence (future link)

  • Providing summaries for different sections of text (future link)

Metadata Techniques

  • Using metadata to associate alternatives at different reading levels. (Metadata Technique)

  • Using the Dublin Core accessibility element to associate text content with text, graphical, or spoken supplements (future link)

  • Using the ISO AfA accessibility element to associate text content with text, graphical, or spoken supplements (future link)

  • Using the IMS accessibility element to associate text content with text, graphical, or spoken supplements (future link)

  • Making metadata viewable by humans (future link)

    • EXAMPLE: Providing, in metadata, URL(s) that point to a pre-primary-reading-level and a primary-reading-level text transcript of a new scientific discovery advanced-reading-level article.

3.1.6 Pronunciation: A mechanism is available for identifying specific pronunciation of words where meaning is ambiguous without knowing the pronunciation. (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.6

Sufficient Techniques for 3.1.6 [Pronunciation] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G120: Providing the pronunciation immediately following the word

  2. G121: Linking to pronunciations

  3. G62: Providing a glossary that includes pronunciation information for words that have a unique pronunciation in the content and have meaning that depends on pronunciation

  4. Providing pronunciation information using a technology-specific technique below

Advisory Techniques for 3.1.6 [Pronunciation]

  • Providing pronunciations in a sound file, so that users can listen to the pronunciations of the word (future link)

  • Providing a mechanism for finding pronunciations for all foreign words in text content (future link)

  • Providing a mechanism to determine the pronunciations of each word or phrase in text content (future link)

Guideline 3.2 Predictable: Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways Understanding Guideline 3.2

3.2.1 On Focus: When any component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.1

Sufficient Techniques for 3.2.1 [On Focus] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G107: Using "activate" rather than "focus" as a trigger for changes of context

Advisory Techniques for 3.2.1 [On Focus]

  • Not causing persistent changes of state or value when a component receives focus, or providing an alternate means to reset any changes (future link)

Failures for SC 3.2.1 [On Focus]

3.2.2 On Input: Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context unless the user has been advised of the behavior before using the component. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.2

Sufficient Techniques for 3.2.2 [On Input] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G80: Providing a submit button to initiate a change of context using a technology-specific technique listed below

  2. G13: Describing what will happen before a change to a form control is made

    • H32: Providing submit buttons (HTML)

    • Using a button with a select element to perform an action (future link)

    • Hiding and showing content based on a select element change (future link)

    • Hiding and showing content based on a radio element change (future link)

  3. G147: Providing instruction about change of context due to change of input setting ahead of such encounter

Failures for SC 3.2.2 [On Input]

3.2.3 Consistent Navigation: Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.3

Sufficient Techniques for 3.2.3 [Consistent Navigation] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G61: Presenting repeated components in the same relative order each time they appear

Advisory Techniques for 3.2.3 [Consistent Navigation]

  • Using templates to ensure consistency across multiple Web pages (future link)

  • Creating layout, positioning, layering, and alignment (future link)

Failures for SC 3.2.3 [Consistent Navigation]

3.2.4 Consistent Identification: Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.4

Sufficient Techniques for 3.2.4 [Consistent Identification] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Using consistent labels, names, and text alternatives for content that has the same functionality.

Note 1: Text alternatives that are "consistent" are not always "identical." For instance, you may have an graphical arrow at the bottom of a Web page that links to the next Web page. The text alternative may say "Go to page 4." Naturally, it would not be appropriate to repeat this exact text alternative on the next Web page. It would be more appropriate to say "Go to page 5". Although these text alternatives would not be identical, they would be consistent, and therefore would satisfy this success criterion.

Note 2: A single non-text-content-item may be used to serve different functions. In such cases, different text alternatives are necessary and should be used. Examples can be commonly found with the use of icons such as check marks, cross marks, and traffic signs. Their functions can be different depending on the context of the Web page. A check mark icon may function as "approved", "completed", or "included", to name a few, depending on the situation. Using "check mark" as text alternative across all Web pages does not help users understand the function of the icon. Different text alternatives can be used when the same non-text content serves multiple functions.

Advisory Techniques for 3.2.4 [Consistent Identification]

  • Ensuring that the text alternative conveys the function of the component and what will happen when the user activates it (future link)

  • Using the same non-text content for a given function whenever possible (future link)

Failures for SC 3.2.4 [Consistent Identification]

3.2.5 Change on Request: Changes of context are initiated only by user request or a mechanism is available to turn off such changes . (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.5

Sufficient Techniques for 3.2.5 [Change on Request] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If the Web page allows automatic updates:

  1. G76: Providing a mechanism to request an update of the content instead of updating automatically

Situation B: If automatic redirects are possible:

  1. G110: Using an instant client-side redirect using one of the following techniques:

Situation C: If the Web page uses pop-up windows:

  1. Including pop-up windows using one of the following techniques:

Situation D: If using an onchange event on a select element:

  1. SCR19: Using an onchange event on a select element without causing a change of context (Scripting)

Advisory Techniques for 3.2.5 [Change on Request]

Opening new windows by:

  • Using the target attribute instead of scripts (future link), indicating that the link may open in a new window, or

  • Providing normal hyperlinks without the target attribute (future link), because many user agents allow users to open links in another window or tab.

Failures for SC 3.2.5 [Change on Request]

Guideline 3.3 Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes Understanding Guideline 3.3

3.3.1 Error Identification: If an input error is detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.1

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.1 [Error Identification] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If a form contains fields for which information from the user is mandatory.

  1. G83: Providing text descriptions to identify required fields that were not completed

Situation B: If information provided by the user is required to be in a specific data format or of certain values.

  1. G85: Providing a text description when user input falls outside the required format or values

  2. SCR18: Providing client-side validation and alert (Scripting)

  3. Providing client-side validation and adding error text via the DOM (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 3.3.1 [Error Identification]

  • G139: Creating a mechanism that allows users to jump to errors

  • Validating form submissions on the server (future link)

  • Re-displaying a form with a summary of errors (future link)

  • Providing error notification as the user enters information (future link)

  • Assisting the user in making corrections by providing links to each error (future link)

  • Highlighting or visually emphasizing errors where they occur (future link)

  • Supplementing text with non-text content when reporting errors (future link)

3.3.2 Labels or Instructions: Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.2

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.2 [Labels or Instructions] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G131: Providing descriptive labels AND one of the following:

  2. H44: Using label elements to associate text labels with form controls (HTML)

  3. H71: Providing a description for groups of form controls using fieldset and legend elements (HTML)

  4. H65: Using the title attribute to identify form controls when the label element cannot be used (HTML)

  5. Using adjacent button to label the purpose of a field (future link)

Note: The techniques at the end of the above list should be considered "last resort" and only used when the other techniques cannot be applied to the page. The earlier techniques are preferred because they increase accessibility to a wider user group.

Advisory Techniques for 3.3.2 [Labels or Instructions]

3.3.3 Error Suggestion: If an input error is detected and suggestions for correction are known, then the suggestions are provided to the user, unless it would jeopardize the security or purpose of the content. (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.3

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.3 [Error Suggestion] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If a mandatory field contains no information:

  1. G83: Providing text descriptions to identify required fields that were not completed

Situation B: If information for a field is required to be in a specific data format:

  1. G85: Providing a text description when user input falls outside the required format or values

  2. Providing links to suggested correction text "close to" form fields, or providing the suggested correction text itself directly on the Web page "next to" form fields (future link)

  3. SCR18: Providing client-side validation and alert (Scripting)

  4. Providing client-side validation and adding error text via the DOM (future link)

Situation C: Information provided by the user is required to be one of a limited set of values:

  1. G84: Providing a text description when the user provides information that is not in the list of allowed values

  2. Providing links to suggested correction text "close to" form fields, or providing the suggested correction text itself directly on the Web page "next to" form fields (future link)

  3. SCR18: Providing client-side validation and alert (Scripting)

  4. Providing client-side validation and adding error text via the DOM (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 3.3.3 [Error Suggestion]

  • G139: Creating a mechanism that allows users to jump to errors

  • Making error messages easy to understand and distinguishable from other text in the Web page (future link)

  • Validating form submissions on the server (future link)

  • When mandatory information has not been provided, including descriptions or examples of correct information in addition to identifying the field as mandatory (future link)

  • Repeating and emphasizing suggestions for correcting each input error in the context of its form field (future link)

  • Providing a way for the user to skip from each item in a list of suggestions to its corresponding form field (future link)

  • Providing additional contextual help for the form field requiring change (future link)

  • Accepting input data in a variety of formats (future link)

Techniques for providing suggestions to the user (Advisory)

  • Providing a text description that contains information about the number of input errors, suggestions for corrections to each item, and instructions on how to proceed (future link)

  • Providing a text description that contains suggestions for correction as the first item (or one of the first items) of content, or emphasizing this information in the content (future link)

  • Displaying errors and suggestions in the context of the original form (for example, re-displaying a form where input errors and suggestions for correction are highlighted and displayed in the context of the original form) (future link)

HTML Techniques (Advisory)

  • Providing "correct examples" for data and data formats as initial text in mandatory form fields (future link)

  • Providing links to suggested correction text "close to" form fields, or providing the suggested correction text itself directly on the Web page "next to" form fields (future link)

Client-Side Scripting Techniques (Advisory)
ARIA Techniques (Advisory)

3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data): For Web pages that cause legal commitments or financial transactions for the user to occur, that modify or delete user-controllable data in data storage systems, or that submit user test responses, at least one of the following is true: (Level AA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.4

  1. Reversible: Submissions are reversible.

  2. Checked: Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them .

  3. Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the submission.

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.4 [Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If an application causes a legal transaction to occur, such as making a purchase or submitting an income tax return:

  1. Providing a stated period of time after submission of the form when the order can be updated or canceled by the user (future link)

  2. G98: Providing the ability for the user to review and correct answers before submitting

  3. Having a checkbox in addition to a submit button (future link)

Situation B: If an action causes information to be deleted:

  1. G99: Providing the ability to recover deleted information

  2. Providing a dialog to the user which requires confirmation before information is deleted (future link)

  3. Requiring a user to select a confirmation checkbox before submitting an action that causes information to be deleted (future link)

  4. Having a checkbox in addition to a submit button (future link)

Situation C: If the Web page includes a testing application:

  1. G98: Providing the ability for the user to review and correct answers before submitting

  2. Asking for confirmation before final submission (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 3.3.4 [Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)]

  • Informing the user what irreversible action is about to happen (future link)

  • SCR18: Providing client-side validation and alert (Scripting)

  • Placing focus in the field containing the error (future link)

  • Avoiding use of the same words or letter combinations to begin each item of a drop-down list (future link)

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.5 [Help] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If a form requires text input:

  1. G71: Providing a help link on every Web page

  2. Using scripts to provide context-sensitive bubble help (future link)

  3. Providing help by an assistant in the Web page (future link)

  4. Providing spell checking and suggestions for text input if applicable to the language (future link)

  5. Using the title attribute to provide context-sensitive help

  6. Providing instructions at the top of a form (future link)

Situation B: If a form requires text input in an expected data format:

  1. G89: Providing expected data format and example

  2. Providing instructions at the top of a form (future link)

Advisory Techniques for 3.3.5 [Help]

  • Checking byte of character and auto-converting to expected byte for text input if applicable (future link)

3.3.6 Error Prevention (All): For Web pages that require the user to submit information, at least one of the following is true: (Level AAA)Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.6

  1. Reversible: Submissions are reversible.

  2. Checked: Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them.

  3. Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the submission.

Sufficient Techniques for 3.3.6 [Error Prevention (All)] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. Following the sufficient techniques for Success Criterion 3.3.4 for all forms that require the user to submit information.

Guideline 4.1 Compatible: Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologiesUnderstanding Guideline 4.1

4.1.1 Parsing: Content implemented using markup languages has elements with complete start and end tags except as allowed by their specifications, the elements are nested according to their specifications, and any IDs are unique. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 4.1.1

Note: Start and end tags that are missing a critical character in their formation, such as a closing angle bracket or a mismatched attribute value quotation mark are not complete.

Sufficient Techniques for 4.1.1 [Parsing] (for the technologies you checked above)

  1. G134: Validating Web pages

  2. Fully conforming to specifications (future link)

  3. Ensuring that Web pages can be parsed by using one of the following techniques:

Failures for SC 4.1.1 [Parsing]

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value: For all user interface components, the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically determined and programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies. (Level A)Understanding Success Criterion 4.1.2

Note: This success criterion is primarily for Web authors who develop or script their own user interface controls. For example, standard HTML controls already meet this success criterion when used according to specification.

Sufficient Techniques for 4.1.2 [Name, Role, Value] (for the technologies you checked above)
Situation A: If using a standard user interface component in a markup language (e.g. HTML):

  1. G108: Using markup features to expose the name and role, allow user-settable properties to be directly set, and provide notification of changes using technology-specific techniques below:

Situation B: If using script or code to re-purpose a standard user interface component in a markup language:

  1. Exposing the names and roles, allowing user-settable properties to be directly set, and providing notification of changes using one of the following techniques:

Situation C: If using a standard user interface component in a programming technology:

  1. G135: Using the accessibility API features of a technology to expose names and roles, to allow user-settable properties to be directly set, and to provide notification of changes

Situation D: If creating your own user interface component in a programming language:

  1. G10: Creating components using a technology that supports the accessibility API features of the platforms on which the user agents will be run to expose the names and roles, allow user-settable properties to be directly set, and provide notification of changes

Advisory Techniques for 4.1.2 [Name, Role, Value]

  • Providing labels for all form controls that do not have implicit labels (future link)

Failures for SC 4.1.2 [Name, Role, Value]

Conformance requirements

In order for a Web page to conform to WCAG 2.0, all of the following conformance requirements must be satisfied:

1.) Conformance Level: One of the following levels of conformance is met in full.

Note: Although conformance can only be achieved at the stated levels, authors are encouraged to satisfy and report progress toward meeting success criteria from all levels beyond the achieved level of conformance.

2.) Full pages: Conformance is for full Web page(s) only, and cannot be achieved if part of a Web page is excluded.

Note: For the purpose of determining conformance, a conforming alternative to part of a page's content is considered part of the page when the alternative content is obtainable directly from the page, e.g., a long description.

3.) Complete processes: When a series of Web pages present sequential steps that need to be completed in order to accomplish an activity, all Web pages in the series conform at a particular level. (Conformance is not possible at any level if all pages in the sequence do not conform at that level.)

Example: An online store has a series of pages that are used to select and purchase products. All pages in the series from start to finish (checkout) must conform in order for any page that is part of the sequence to conform.

4.) Accessibility-Supported Technologies Only: Only accessibility supported technologies are relied upon to satisfy the success criteria. Any information or functionality that is implemented in technologies that are not accessibility supported must also be available via technologies that are accessibility supported. (See Understanding accessibility support.)

5.) Non-Interference: If technologies that are not accessibility supported are used on a page, or accessibility-supported technologies are used in a non-conforming way, then they do not block the ability of users to access the rest of the page. Specifically, the Web page as a whole continues to meet the conformance requirements under all of the following conditions:

  1. when any (non accessibility-supported) technology is turned on in a user agent, and

  2. when it is turned off in a user agent, and

  3. when it is not supported by a user agent

Note: The following success criteria all apply to full pages including technologies that are not accessibility supported or relied upon to meet the other success criterion because they deal with things that could interfere with overall use of the page: 1.4.2 - Audio Control, 2.1.2 - No Keyboard Trap, 2.3.1 - Three Flashes or Below Threshold, and 2.2.2 - Pausing.

Note: If pages cannot conform (for example, conformance test pages or example pages) they cannot be included in the scope of conformance or conformance claim.

For more information, see Understanding Conformance Requirements.