A1.1.1
Text Alternatives
Non-text Content
Provide text alternatives for non-text content that serves a purpose.
- Decorative images are marked ignored or have empty alt.
- Meaningful images, icons, and controls have descriptive names or alt text.
WCAG 2.0–2.2 · Section 508 · Accessive design
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Conformance target
Choose your conformance target
WCAG 2.x levels plus Section 508 Rev. 2018 (maps to WCAG 2.0 in scope here). The list below uses the target for counts and highlighting. Turn on full catalog to show every criterion for context.
Current W3C recommendation; aligns with most ADA / EN 301 549 expectations.
Showing 87 criteria · 56 in scope for WCAG 2.2 · Level AA.
At a glance
WCAG 2.2 · Level AA — practical overview for planning audits and fixes.
- Criteria in scope
- 56
- Total in view
- 87
- Tip
- Pair this list with a free scan, then prioritize AA gaps before AAA enhancements.
Less scrolling: Overview shows one principle at a time (accordion). Use P1–P4 to focus a single principle in full length.
Users can perceive content.
A1.2.1
Time-based Media
Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
Offer an alternative for prerecorded audio-only or video-only content.
- Audio-only has a text transcript or equivalent.
- Video-only has an audio track or text alternative describing the video.
A1.2.2
Time-based Media
Captions (Prerecorded)
Provide captions for prerecorded synchronized media with audio.
- Captions include dialogue and relevant non-speech information.
- Captions are available when media plays.
A1.2.3
Time-based Media
Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Provide audio description or a full text alternative for prerecorded video.
- Important visual information is available in audio or text.
- Users can access the alternative alongside or instead of the video.
AA1.2.4
Time-based Media
Captions (Live)
Provide captions for live synchronized media that has audio.
- Live streams with speech include real-time or accurate captions.
AA1.2.5
Time-based Media
Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Provide audio description for prerecorded video when needed.
- Visual details essential to understanding are described in synchronized audio or equivalent.
AAA1.2.6Outside target
Time-based Media
Sign Language (Prerecorded)
Provide sign language interpretation for prerecorded audio.
- Synchronized sign language video is available for all spoken content.
AAA1.2.7Outside target
Time-based Media
Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Provide extended audio description when pauses are insufficient.
- Media can pause or extend to fit full audio description.
AAA1.2.8Outside target
Time-based Media
Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Provide a text alternative for prerecorded synchronized media.
- A document or transcript captures dialogue, sounds, and visual action.
AAA1.2.9Outside target
Time-based Media
Audio-only (Live)
Provide a text alternative for live audio-only content.
- Live audio has captions, transcript, or equivalent in real time or immediately after.
A1.3.1
Adaptable
Info and Relationships
Expose structure, roles, and relationships to assistive technologies.
- Headings, lists, tables, and landmarks use correct semantics.
- Form labels are programmatically associated with controls.
A1.3.2
Adaptable
Meaningful Sequence
Preserve a meaningful reading order in code and presentation.
- DOM order matches intended reading order.
- CSS positioning does not scramble meaning.
A1.3.3
Adaptable
Sensory Characteristics
Do not rely solely on shape, color, size, or position for instructions.
- Instructions name elements in text, not only by color or location.
AA1.3.4
Adaptable
Orientation
Do not lock content to a single display orientation.
- Portrait and landscape both work unless essential otherwise.
AA1.3.5
Adaptable
Identify Input Purpose
Programmatically identify common input purposes where applicable.
- Use autocomplete and appropriate input types for fields like name, email, address.
AAA1.3.6Outside target
Adaptable
Identify Purpose
Identify purpose of regions and controls to support personalization.
- Landmarks and icons expose purpose in a machine-readable way where supported.
A1.4.1
Distinguishable
Use of Color
Color is not the only visual means of conveying information.
- Charts, errors, and links use text, pattern, or icons in addition to color.
A1.4.2
Distinguishable
Audio Control
Let users pause, stop, or control auto-playing audio.
- Audio longer than 3s can be stopped or volume set independently.
AA1.4.3
Distinguishable
Contrast (Minimum)
Meet minimum contrast for text and images of text.
- Normal text meets at least 4.5:1 (or 3:1 for large/bold text per definition).
- User interface components and graphics meet non-text contrast where required.
AA1.4.4
Distinguishable
Resize Text
Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or function.
- Zoom 200%: no clipping, overlap, or horizontal scroll for body text (unless needed).
AA1.4.5
Distinguishable
Images of Text
Use real text instead of images of text when technologies allow.
- Logos and essential branding may be excepted; otherwise use CSS/styled text.
AAA1.4.6Outside target
Distinguishable
Contrast (Enhanced)
Higher contrast ratios than minimum.
- Text contrast meets enhanced thresholds (7:1 / 4.5:1 large) where applicable.
AAA1.4.7Outside target
Distinguishable
Low or No Background Audio
Background audio in speech content is low or removable.
- Speech is at least 20 dB above background or background can be turned off.
AAA1.4.8Outside target
Distinguishable
Visual Presentation
Offer foreground/background, line length, spacing, and alignment controls.
- Users can adjust width, alignment, line spacing, and paragraph spacing for blocks of text.
AAA1.4.9Outside target
Distinguishable
Images of Text (No Exception)
No images of text except decoration or essential.
- All meaningful text is real text, not bitmaps.
AA1.4.10
Distinguishable
Reflow
Content reflows without horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS px width.
- No two-dimensional scroll for vertical content at equivalent of 320px width.
AA1.4.11
Distinguishable
Non-text Contrast
UI components and graphical objects meet contrast against adjacent colors.
- Icons, focus rings, and boundaries meet 3:1 against adjacent colors (with exceptions).
AA1.4.12
Distinguishable
Text Spacing
Content remains usable when users override text spacing.
- Apply specified line-height, letter-, word-spacing without loss of content.
AA1.4.13
Distinguishable
Content on Hover or Focus
Additional content on hover/focus is dismissible, hoverable, and persistent.
- Tooltips and flyouts can be dismissed without moving pointer.
- Pointer can move to hover content without it disappearing.
Users can operate interface & navigate.
A2.1.1
Keyboard Accessible
Keyboard
All functionality is available from a keyboard.
- No mouse-only actions; custom widgets expose keyboard operation.
A2.1.2
Keyboard Accessible
No Keyboard Trap
Keyboard focus can always move away from components.
- Plugins, modals, and embedded widgets provide a way out with standard keys.
AAA2.1.3Outside target
Keyboard Accessible
Keyboard (No Exception)
All content meets keyboard requirement without exception.
- Even drawing paths and freehand have keyboard or alternative input.
A2.1.4
Keyboard Accessible
Character Key Shortcuts
Single-character shortcuts can be turned off, remapped, or need a modifier.
- If single letters trigger actions, provide disable/remap or require non-printable modifier.
A2.2.1
Enough Time
Timing Adjustable
Users can turn off, adjust, or extend time limits.
- Timeouts warn users and offer extension where feasible.
A2.2.2
Enough Time
Pause, Stop, Hide
Moving, blinking, or auto-updating content can be controlled.
- Carousels, marquees, and auto-refresh can be paused or stopped.
AAA2.2.3Outside target
Enough Time
No Timing
No time limits for activity except where essential.
- No session timeouts unless required (e.g. auction).
AAA2.2.4Outside target
Enough Time
Interruptions
Postponed or suppressed interruptions except emergencies.
- Users can defer updates and chat popups during focused tasks.
AAA2.2.5Outside target
Enough Time
Re-authenticating
Preserve data when re-authentication is required.
- Multi-step forms retain data after session refresh when possible.
AAA2.2.6Outside target
Enough Time
Timeouts
Warn users about duration of inactivity that could cause data loss.
- Users are informed how long until timeout and what data may be lost.
A2.3.1
Seizures and Physical Reactions
Three Flashes or Below Threshold
Avoid flashing that could trigger seizures.
- No content flashes more than three times per second above threshold.
AAA2.3.2Outside target
Seizures and Physical Reactions
Three Flashes
No flashing above threshold anywhere on page.
- Stricter: zero violation of flash thresholds.
AAA2.3.3Outside target
Seizures and Physical Reactions
Animation from Interactions
Motion from interaction can be disabled.
- Respect prefers-reduced-motion or provide a control to disable non-essential motion.
A2.4.1
Navigable
Bypass Blocks
Provide a mechanism to skip repeated blocks.
- Skip link, landmarks, or collapse bypasses main navigation blocks.
A2.4.2
Navigable
Page Titled
Pages have descriptive titles.
- Title describes topic or purpose and distinguishes pages in tabs.
A2.4.3
Navigable
Focus Order
Focus order preserves meaning and operability.
- Tab order follows visual and logical reading order.
A2.4.4
Navigable
Link Purpose (In Context)
Link purpose is clear from link text or context.
- Avoid vague “click here”; sentence or heading provides purpose.
AA2.4.5
Navigable
Multiple Ways
More than one way to find pages (except process steps).
- Search, sitemap, nav, or site index available as appropriate.
AA2.4.6
Navigable
Headings and Labels
Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.
- Form labels and section headings are descriptive, not generic only.
AA2.4.7
Navigable
Focus Visible
Keyboard focus indicator is visible.
- Default or custom focus ring is visible on all interactive elements.
AAA2.4.8Outside target
Navigable
Location
Users know where they are within a set of pages.
- Breadcrumbs, step indicator, or “you are here” in navigation.
AAA2.4.9Outside target
Navigable
Link Purpose (Link Only)
Link purpose clear from link text alone.
- Each link text is self-describing without surrounding context.
AAA2.4.10Outside target
Navigable
Section Headings
Use headings to organize content.
- Long pages use hierarchical headings for sections.
AA2.4.11
Navigable
Focus Appearance (Minimum)
Focus indicators meet minimum size and contrast when visible.
- Focus ring area and contrast meet WCAG 2.2 focus appearance rules when not browser-default.
AA2.4.12
Navigable
Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)
Focused element is not entirely hidden by author-created content.
- Sticky headers, footers, and overlays leave focused control at least partially visible.
AAA2.4.13Outside target
Navigable
Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced)
Focused element is not hidden by sticky or overlapping content (enhanced).
- Focused control remains fully visible (except user-moved content).
A2.5.1
Input Modalities
Pointer Gestures
Multipoint or path-based gestures have a single-pointer alternative.
- Swipes and pinch-zoom have buttons or taps as alternative where applicable.
A2.5.2
Input Modalities
Pointer Cancellation
Actions use up-event or abort mechanism.
- Click/tap completes on release; users can move away to cancel.
A2.5.3
Input Modalities
Label in Name
Accessible name contains visible text of the control.
- Voice users can speak visible label; aria-label includes visible words.
A2.5.4
Input Modalities
Motion Actuation
Device motion can be disabled and has a non-motion alternative.
- Shake-to-undo can be turned off; same function available via UI.
AAA2.5.5Outside target
Input Modalities
Target Size (Enhanced)
Larger pointer targets than minimum.
- Targets at least 44×44 CSS px (with exceptions).
AAA2.5.6Outside target
Input Modalities
Concurrent Input Mechanisms
Do not restrict input modality unless essential.
- Touch, keyboard, and voice can be mixed; no modality lock-in.
AA2.5.7
Input Modalities
Dragging Movements
Dragging has a single-pointer alternative unless essential.
- Sliders and drag-drop offer tap, arrows, or form alternative.
AA2.5.8
Input Modalities
Target Size (Minimum)
Pointer targets meet minimum size or spacing.
- Targets at least 24×24 CSS px or adequate spacing (with exceptions).
Content & operation are understandable.
A3.1.1
Readable
Language of Page
Default human language of the page is programmatically determined.
- html lang attribute matches primary page language.
AA3.1.2
Readable
Language of Parts
Mark language changes in content.
- Foreign phrases use lang attribute on element or wrapper.
AAA3.1.3Outside target
Readable
Unusual Words
Provide mechanism for unusual words and jargon.
- Glossary, definition link, or inline definition available.
AAA3.1.4Outside target
Readable
Abbreviations
Explain abbreviations on first use or via mechanism.
- Expand abbreviations or link to expansion.
AAA3.1.5Outside target
Readable
Reading Level
Offer simplified summary when text requires advanced reading ability.
- Supplementary text, audio, or illustration explains dense content.
AAA3.1.6Outside target
Readable
Pronunciation
Clarify pronunciation when meaning depends on it.
- Homographs disambiguated where needed.
A3.2.1
Predictable
On Focus
Focus does not trigger unexpected context changes.
- Focusing a field does not auto-submit or navigate without warning.
A3.2.2
Predictable
On Input
Changing input does not cause unexpected context change without consent.
- Selecting dropdown value does not auto-navigate unless explained.
AA3.2.3
Predictable
Consistent Navigation
Repeated navigation components occur in consistent relative order.
- Nav order stable across pages in a set.
AA3.2.4
Predictable
Consistent Identification
Same functionality is labeled consistently across pages.
- Search icon and label behave the same site-wide.
AAA3.2.5Outside target
Predictable
Change on Request
Context changes only on user request.
- No auto-redirect or layout swap without explicit user action.
A3.2.6
Predictable
Consistent Help
Human help mechanism in a consistent place across pages.
- Contact, chat, or help link appears in same relative location in a set of pages.
A3.3.1
Input Assistance
Error Identification
Input errors are identified and described in text.
- Invalid fields show message and are associated programmatically.
A3.3.2
Input Assistance
Labels or Instructions
Provide labels or instructions when user input is required.
- Required format and constraints explained before or with input.
AA3.3.3
Input Assistance
Error Suggestion
Suggest corrections when known.
- Email format errors suggest valid pattern; known fixes offered.
AA3.3.4
Input Assistance
Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)
Reversible, checkable, or confirmed submissions for critical data.
- Orders and legal forms allow review or confirmation.
AAA3.3.5Outside target
Input Assistance
Help
Context-sensitive help is available.
- Forms offer instructions, examples, or help links.
AAA3.3.6Outside target
Input Assistance
Error Prevention (All)
All submissions reversible, checked, or confirmed.
- Even non-legal forms offer confirmation or undo.
A3.3.7
Input Assistance
Redundant Entry
Do not ask for the same information again in the same process.
- Auto-fill, select prior value, or copy from earlier step (with exceptions).
AA3.3.8
Input Assistance
Accessible Authentication (Minimum)
Cognitive function tests are not required unless alternatives exist.
- CAPTCHA has accessible alternative; no puzzle-only login without object recognition alternative.
AAA3.3.9Outside target
Input Assistance
Accessible Authentication (Enhanced)
Stronger authentication without cognitive tests.
- Authentication avoids recall of transcribed or puzzle content entirely where possible.
Content works with assistive tech & parsers.
A4.1.1Outside targetObsolete 2.2+
Compatible
Parsing
Markup is used such that roles/states/props are valid (legacy).
- Note: Removed in WCAG 2.2 — still listed for 2.0/2.1 conformance tracking.
- Validate HTML; fix duplicate IDs and mismatched tags in older audits.
A4.1.2
Compatible
Name, Role, Value
UI components expose name, role, state to assistive tech.
- Custom widgets use ARIA or native elements with correct states.
AA4.1.3
Compatible
Status Messages
Status messages are programmatically determinable without focus move.
- Use role=status/alert or live regions for toasts and inline validation.
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