WCAG Success Criteria Flashcards
All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose, except for the situations listed below.
1.1.1 Non-text Content
Level A / Text Alternatives (the only SC)
For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such:
- Prerecorded Audio-only: An alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded audio-only content.
- Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded video-only content.
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
Level A / Time-based Media
Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
Level A / Time-based Media
An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Level A / Time-based Media
Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media.
1.2.4 Captions (Live)
Level AA / Time-based Media
Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media.
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Level AA / Time-based Media
Sign language interpretation is provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media.
1.2.6 Sign Language (Prerecorded)
Level AAA / Time-based Media
Where pauses in foreground audio are insufficient to allow audio descriptions to convey the sense of the video, extended audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media.
1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
Level AAA / Time-based Media
An alternative for time-based media is provided for all prerecorded synchronized media and for all prerecorded video-only media.
1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
Level AAA / Time-based Media
An alternative for time-based media that presents equivalent information for live audio-only content is provided.
1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)
Level AAA / Time-based Media
Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.
1.3.1 Info and Relationships
Level A / Adaptable
When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence
Level A / Adaptable
Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound.
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics
Level A / Adaptable
Content does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation, such as portrait or landscape, unless a specific display orientation is essential.
1.3.4 Orientation
Level AA (Added in 2.1) / Adaptable
The purpose of each input field collecting information about the user can be programmatically determined when:
- The input field serves a purpose identified in the Input Purposes for User Interface Components section; and
- The content is implemented using technologies with support for identifying the expected meaning for form input data.
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Adaptable
In content implemented using markup languages, the purpose of User Interface Components, icons, and regions can be programmatically determined.
1.3.6 Identify Purpose
Level AAA(Added in 2.1) / Adaptable
Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
1.4.1 Use of Color
Level A / Distinguishable
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 independently from the overall system volume level.
1.4.2 Audio Control
Level A / Distinguishable
non-interference applies
The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, except for the following:
- Large Text: Large-scale text and images of large-scale 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 not visible to anyone, or that are part of a picture that contains significant other visual content, have no contrast requirement.
- Logotypes: Text that is part of a logo or brand name has no contrast requirement.
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
Level AA / Distinguishable
Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.
1.4.4 Resize text
Level AA / Distinguishable
If the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text except for the following:
- Customizable: The image of text can be visually customized to the user’s requirements;
- Essential: A particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.
- Note 1: Logotypes (text that is part of a logo or brand name) are considered essential.
1.4.5 Images of Text
Level AA / Distinguishable
The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, except for the following:
- Large Text: Large-scale text and images of large-scale text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1;
- Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are not visible to anyone, or that are part of a picture that contains significant other visual content, have no contrast requirement.
- Logotypes: Text that is part of a logo or brand name has no contrast requirement.
1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)
Level AAA / Distinguishable
For prerecorded audio-only content that (1) contains primarily speech in the foreground, (2) is not an audio CAPTCHA or audio logo, and (3) is not vocalization intended to be primarily musical expression such as singing or rapping, at least one of the following is true:
- No Background: The audio does not contain background sounds.
- Turn Off: The background sounds can be turned off.
- 20 dB: The background sounds are at least 20 decibels lower than the foreground speech content, with the exception of occasional sounds that last for only one or two seconds.
1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio
Level AAA / Distinguishable
For the visual presentation of blocks of text, a mechanism is available to achieve the following:
- Foreground and background colors can be selected by the user.
- Width is no more than 80 characters or glyphs.
- Text is not justified
- Line spacing is at least 1.5 within paragraphs, and paragraph spacing is at least 1.5 times larger than the line spacing.
- 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 on a full-screen window.
1.4.8 Visual Presentation
Level AAA / Distinguishable
Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.
1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception)
Level AAA / Distinguishable
Content can be presented without loss of information or functionality, and without requiring scrolling in two dimensions for:
- Vertical scrolling content at a width equivalent to 320 CSS pixels;
- Horizontal scrolling content at a height equivalent to 256 CSS pixels;
Except for parts of the content which require two-dimensional layout for usage or meaning.
1.4.10 Reflow
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Distinguishable
The visual presentation of the following have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent color(s):
- User Interface Components: Visual information required to identify user interface components and states, except for inactive components or where the appearance of the component is determined by the user agent and not modified by the author;
- Graphical Objects: Parts of graphics required to understand the content, except when a particular presentation of graphics is essential to the information being conveyed.
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Distinguishable
In content implemented using markup languages that support the following text style properties, no loss of content or functionality occurs by setting all of the following and by changing no other style property:
- Line height to at least 1.5x the font size;
- Spacing following paragraphs to at least 2x the font size;
- Letter spacing to at least 0.12x the font size;
- Word spacing to at least 0.16x the font size.
Exception: Human languages and scripts that do not make use of one or more of these text style properties in written text can conform using only the properties that exist for that combination of language and script.
1.4.12 Text Spacing
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Distinguishable
Where receiving and then removing pointer hover or keyboard focus triggers additional content to become visible and then hidden, the following are true:
- Dismissible: A mechanism is available to dismiss the additional content without moving pointer hover or keyboard focus, unless the additional content communicates an input error or does not obscure or replace other content;
- Hoverable: If pointer hover can trigger the additional content, then the pointer can be moved over the additional content without the additional content disappearing;
- Persistent: The additional content remains visible until the hover or focus trigger is removed, the user dismisses it, or its information is no longer valid.
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Distinguishable
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.
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.
2.1.1 Keyboard
Level A / Keyboard Accessible
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 or other standard exit methods, the user is advised of the method for moving focus away.
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap
Level A / Keyboard Accessible
Non-interference applies
All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes.
2.1.3 Keyboard (No Exception)
Level AAA / Keyboard Accessible
If a keyboard shortcut is implemented in content using only letter (including upper- and lower-case letters), punctuation, number, or symbol characters, then at least one of the following is true:
- Turn off: A mechanism is available to turn the shortcut off;
- Remap: A mechanism is available to remap the shortcut to include one or more non-printable keyboard keys (e.g., Ctrl, Alt);
- Active only on focus: The keyboard shortcut for a user interface component is only active when that component has focus.
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts
Level A(Added in 2.1) / Keyboard Accessible
For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true:
- 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 is essential and extending it would invalidate the activity; or
- 20 Hour Exception: The time limit is longer than 20 hours.
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable
Level A / Enough Time
For moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information, all of the following are true:
- Moving, blinking, scrolling: For any moving, blinking or scrolling information that (1) starts automatically, (2) lasts more than five seconds, and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it unless the movement, blinking, or scrolling is part of an activity where it is essential; and
- Auto-updating: For any auto-updating information that (1) starts automatically and (2) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it or to control the frequency of the update unless the auto-updating is part of an activity where it is essential.
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide
Level A / Enough Time
Non-interference applies
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.
2.2.3 No Timing
Level AAA / Enough Time
Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed by the user, except interruptions involving an emergency.
2.2.4 Interruptions
Level AAA / Enough Time
When an authenticated session expires, the user can continue the activity without loss of data after re-authenticating.
2.2.5 Re-authenticating
Level AAA / Enough Time
Users are warned of the duration of any user inactivity that could cause data loss, unless the data is preserved for more than 20 hours when the user does not take any actions.
2.2.6 Timeouts
Level AAA(Added in 2.1) / Enough Time
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.
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold
Level A / Seizures and Physical Reactions
Non-interference applies
Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period.
2.3.2 Three Flashes
Level AAA / Seizures and Physical Reactions
Motion animation triggered by interaction can be disabled, unless the animation is essential to the functionality or the information being conveyed.
2.3.3 Animation from Interactions
Level AAA(Added in 2.1) / Seizures and Physical Reactions
A mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple Web pages.
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
Level A / Navigable
Web pages have titles that describe topic or purpose.
2.4.2 Page Titled
Level A / Navigable
If a Web page can be navigated sequentially and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.
2.4.3 Focus Order
Level A / Navigable
The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
Level A / Navigable
More than one way is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages except where the Web Page is the result of, or a step in, a process.
2.4.5 Multiple Ways
Level AA / Navigable
Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.
2.4.6 Headings and Labels
Level AA / Navigable
Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible.
2.4.7 Focus Visible
Level AA / Navigable
Information about the user’s location within a set of Web pages is available.
2.4.8 Location
Level AAA / Navigable
A mechanism is available to allow the purpose of each link to be identified from link text alone, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general.
2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only)
Level AAA / Navigable
Section headings are used to organize the content.
2.4.10 Section Headings
Level AAA / Navigable
All functionality that uses multipoint or path-based gestures for operation can be operated with a single pointer without a path-based gesture, unless a multipoint or path-based gesture is essential.
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
Level A(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
For functionality that can be operated using a single pointer, at least one of the following is true:
- No Down-Event: The down-event of the pointer is not used to execute any part of the function;
- Abort or Undo: Completion of the function is on the up-event, and a mechanism is available to abort the function before completion or to undo the function after completion;
- Up Reversal: The up-event reverses any outcome of the preceding down-event;
- Essential: Completing the function on the down-event is essential.
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation
Level A(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
For user interface components with labels that include text or images of text, the name contains the text that is presented visually.
2.5.3 Label in Name
Level A(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
Functionality that can be operated by device motion or user motion can also be operated by user interface components and responding to the motion can be disabled to prevent accidental actuation, except when:
- Supported Interface: The motion is used to operate functionality through an accessibility supported interface;
- Essential: The motion is essential for the function and doing so would invalidate the activity.
2.5.4 Motion Actuation
Level A(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels except when:
- Equivalent: The target is available through an equivalent link or control on the same page that is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels;
- Inline: The target is in a sentence or block of text;
- User Agent Control: The size of the target is determined by the user agent and is not modified by the author;
- Essential: A particular presentation of the target is essential to the information being conveyed.
2.5.5 Target Size
Level AAA(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
Web content does not restrict use of input modalities available on a platform except where the restriction is essential, required to ensure the security of the content, or required to respect user settings.
2.5.6 Concurrent Input Mechanisms
Level AAA(Added in 2.1) / Input Modalities
The default human language of each Web page can be programmatically determined.
3.1.1 Language of Page
Level A / Readable
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.
3.1.2 Language of Parts
Level AA / Readable
A mechanism is available for identifying specific definitions of words or phrases used in an unusual or restricted way, including idioms and jargon.
3.1.3 Unusual Words
Level AAA / Readable
A mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning of abbreviations is available.
3.1.4 Abbreviations
Level AAA / Readable
When text requires reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content, or a version that does not require reading ability more advanced than the lower secondary education level, is available.
3.1.5 Reading Level
Level AAA / Readable
A mechanism is available for identifying specific pronunciation of words where meaning of the words, in context, is ambiguous without knowing the pronunciation.
3.1.6 Pronunciation
Level AAA / Readable
When any user interface component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.
3.2.1 On Focus
Level A / Predictable
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.
3.2.2 On Input
Level A / Predictable
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.
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation
Level AA / Predictable
Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently.
3.2.4 Consistent Identification
Level AA / Predictable
Changes of context are initiated only by user request or a mechanism is available to turn off such changes.
3.2.5 Change on Request
Level AAA / Predictable
If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text.
3.3.1 Error Identification
Level A / Input Assistance
Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions
Level A / Input Assistance
If an input error is automatically 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.
3.3.3 Error Suggestion
Level AA / Input Assistance
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:
- Reversible: Submissions are reversible.
- Checked: Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them.
- Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the submission.
3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)
Level AA / Input Assistance
Context-sensitive help is available.
3.3.5 Help
Level AAA / Input Assistance
For Web pages that require the user to submit information, at least one of the following is true:
- Reversible: Submissions are reversible.
- Checked: Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them.
- Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the submission.
3.3.6 Error Prevention (All)
Level AAA / Input Assistance
In content implemented using markup languages, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and any IDs are unique, except where the specifications allow these features.
4.1.1 Parsing
Level A / Compatible
For all user interface components (including but not limited to: form elements, links and components generated by scripts), the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies.
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
Level A / Compatible
In content implemented using markup languages, status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties such that they can be presented to the user by assistive technologies without receiving focus.
4.1.3 Status Messages
Level AA(Added in 2.1) / Compatible
When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, the component is not entirely hidden due to author-created content.
2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)
Level AA (Added in 2.2)
When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, no part of the component is hidden by author-created content.
2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced)
Level AAA (Added in 2,2)
When the keyboard focus indicator is visible, an area of the focus indicator meets all the following:
- is at least as large as the area of a 2 CSS pixel thick perimeter of the unfocused component or sub-component, and
- has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 between the same pixels in the focused and unfocused states.
Exceptions:
- The focus indicator is determined by the user agent and cannot be adjusted by the author, or
- The focus indicator and the indicator’s background color are not modified by the author.
2.4.13 Focus Appearance
Level AAA (Added in 2,2)
All functionality that uses a dragging movement for operation can be achieved by a single pointer without dragging, unless dragging is essential or the functionality is determined by the user agent and not modified by the author.
2.5.7 Dragging Movements
Level AA (Added in 2,2)
The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, except where:
- Spacing: Undersized targets (those less than 24 by 24 CSS pixels) are positioned so that if a 24 CSS pixel diameter circle is centered on the bounding box of each, the circles do not intersect another target or the circle for another undersized target;
- Equivalent: The function can be achieved through a different control on the same page that meets this criterion;
- Inline: The target is in a sentence or its size is otherwise constrained by the line-height of non-target text;
- User agent control: The size of the target is determined by the user agent and is not modified by the author;
- Essential: A particular presentation of the target is essential or is legally required for the information being conveyed.
2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum)
Level AA (Added in 2.2)
If a Web page contains any of the following help mechanisms, and those mechanisms are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages, they occur in the same order relative to other page content, unless a change is initiated by the user:
- Human contact details;
- Human contact mechanism;
- Self-help option;
- A fully automated contact mechanism.
3.2.6 Consistent Help
Level A (Added in 2.2)
Information previously entered by or provided to the user that is required to be entered again in the same process is either:
- auto-populated, or
- available for the user to select.
Except when:
- re-entering the information is essential,
- the information is required to ensure the security of the content, or
- previously entered information is no longer valid.
3.3.7 Redundant Entry
Level A (Added in 2.2)
A cognitive function test (such as remembering a password or solving a puzzle) is not required for any step in an authentication process unless that step provides at least one of the following:
- Alternative: Another authentication method that does not rely on a cognitive function test.
- Mechanism: A mechanism is available to assist the user in completing the cognitive function test.
- Object Recognition: The cognitive function test is to recognize objects.
- Personal Content: The cognitive function test is to identify non-text content the user provided to the Web site.
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum)
Level AA (Added in 2.2)
A cognitive function test (such as remembering a password or solving a puzzle) is not required for any step in an authentication process unless that step provides at least one of the following:
- Alternative: Another authentication method that does not rely on a cognitive function test.
- Mechanism: A mechanism is available to assist the user in completing the cognitive function test.
3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced)
Level AAA(Added in 2.2)
