WCAG 2.2 – every success criterion at a glance
WCAG is the standard the European Accessibility Act relies on. This overview lists every success criterion of version 2.2 – the summary to skim, and a page with the full explanation behind it.
A is the baseline, AA the benchmark for the EAA, AAA the optimum. AA is what is normally required.
A 32 · AA 24 · AAA 31 — 87 criteria
| Nr. | Contents | In one sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Text Alternatives Principle 1: Perceivable | ||
| 1.1.1 | Non-text Content | Anything that is not text needs a text alternative – images, icons, charts, controls. |
| 1.2 Time-based Media Principle 1: Perceivable | ||
| 1.2.1 | Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | Audio-only needs a transcript; video without sound needs a description. |
| 1.2.2 | Captions (Prerecorded) | Every prerecorded video with sound needs captions. |
| 1.2.3 | Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | What can only be seen must also be available in sound or text. |
| 1.2.4 | Captions (Live) | Live broadcasts need captions too. |
| 1.2.5 | Audio Description (Prerecorded) | Prerecorded video needs audio description – a transcript is no longer enough. |
| 1.2.6 | Sign Language (Prerecorded) | Prerecorded video is additionally interpreted into sign language. |
| 1.2.7 | Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded) | If the dialogue gaps are too short, the video pauses for the description. |
| 1.2.8 | Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | A complete text version exists in addition to everything else. |
| 1.2.9 | Audio-only (Live) | Live audio-only content gets a real-time text alternative. |
| 1.3 Adaptable Principle 1: Perceivable | ||
| 1.3.1 | Info and Relationships | Structure must exist in the code, not only in the visual design. |
| 1.3.2 | Meaningful Sequence | The order in the code must convey the same meaning as the visual order. |
| 1.3.3 | Sensory Characteristics | Instructions must not rely on shape, colour, size or position alone. |
| 1.3.4 | Orientation New in WCAG 2.1 | Content must not be locked to portrait or landscape. |
| 1.3.5 | Identify Input Purpose New in WCAG 2.1 | Fields asking for personal data must be machine-identifiable. |
| 1.3.6 | Identify Purpose New in WCAG 2.1 | Controls and icons are also marked up machine-readably. |
| 1.4 Distinguishable Principle 1: Perceivable | ||
| 1.4.1 | Use of Color | Color must never be the only way information is conveyed. |
| 1.4.2 | Audio Control | Sound that starts automatically and runs longer than three seconds must be stoppable. |
| 1.4.3 | Contrast (Minimum) | Text needs a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, large text 3:1. |
| 1.4.4 | Resize Text | Text must scale to 200 % without loss of content or function. |
| 1.4.5 | Images of Text | Text should be delivered as text, not as an image. |
| 1.4.6 | Contrast (Enhanced) | Text reaches at least 7:1, large text 4.5:1. |
| 1.4.7 | Low or No Background Audio | Background sound in speech recordings is quiet or can be turned off. |
| 1.4.8 | Visual Presentation | Users can adjust colours, line width, line spacing and alignment. |
| 1.4.9 | Images of Text (No Exception) | Images of text are used only for decoration and logos. |
| 1.4.10 | Reflow New in WCAG 2.1 | Content must reflow into narrow viewports without horizontal scrolling. |
| 1.4.11 | Non-text Contrast New in WCAG 2.1 | Controls and meaningful graphics need 3:1 contrast too. |
| 1.4.12 | Text Spacing New in WCAG 2.1 | Increasing line, word and paragraph spacing must not lose content. |
| 1.4.13 | Content on Hover or Focus New in WCAG 2.1 | Content that appears must stay reachable and must not vanish on its own. |
| 2.1 Keyboard Accessible Principle 2: Operable | ||
| 2.1.1 | Keyboard | Everything must be operable from the keyboard. |
| 2.1.2 | No Keyboard Trap | Keyboard focus must never get stuck. |
| 2.1.3 | Keyboard (No Exception) | Keyboard operability without the exceptions in 2.1.1. |
| 2.1.4 | Character Key Shortcuts New in WCAG 2.1 | Single-character shortcuts must be switchable or remappable. |
| 2.2 Enough Time Principle 2: Operable | ||
| 2.2.1 | Timing Adjustable | Time limits must be adjustable, extendable or removable. |
| 2.2.2 | Pause, Stop, Hide | Moving or auto-updating content must be pausable. |
| 2.2.3 | No Timing | No time limits at all – except for real-time events. |
| 2.2.4 | Interruptions | Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed. |
| 2.2.5 | Re-authenticating | After a session expires, work continues without data loss. |
| 2.2.6 | Timeouts New in WCAG 2.1 | Users are warned when inactivity can cause data loss. |
| 2.3 Seizures and Physical Reactions Principle 2: Operable | ||
| 2.3.1 | Three Flashes or Below Threshold | Nothing may flash more than three times per second. |
| 2.3.2 | Three Flashes | No flashing above three per second at all – without the exceptions in 2.3.1. |
| 2.3.3 | Animation from Interactions New in WCAG 2.1 | Motion animation can be disabled. |
| 2.4 Navigable Principle 2: Operable | ||
| 2.4.1 | Bypass Blocks | Repeated blocks such as navigation must be skippable. |
| 2.4.2 | Page Titled | Every page needs a descriptive title. |
| 2.4.3 | Focus Order | The tab order must be meaningful. |
| 2.4.4 | Link Purpose (In Context) | A link – with its context if need be – must reveal where it goes. |
| 2.4.5 | Multiple Ways | There is more than one way to find a page. |
| 2.4.6 | Headings and Labels | Headings and labels must describe topic or purpose. |
| 2.4.7 | Focus Visible | The focused element must be clearly indicated. |
| 2.4.8 | Location | Users can tell where they are within the site. |
| 2.4.9 | Link Purpose (Link Only) | The link text alone must reveal the destination. |
| 2.4.10 | Section Headings | Longer content is organised with section headings. |
| 2.4.11 | Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) New in WCAG 2.2 | The focused element must not be entirely hidden. |
| 2.4.12 | Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) New in WCAG 2.2 | The focused element must not be obscured at all – not even partly. |
| 2.4.13 | Focus Appearance New in WCAG 2.2 | The focus indicator needs a minimum size and contrast. |
| 2.5 Input Modalities Principle 2: Operable | ||
| 2.5.1 | Pointer Gestures New in WCAG 2.1 | Anything requiring multiple fingers or a path must also work simply. |
| 2.5.2 | Pointer Cancellation New in WCAG 2.1 | An action started by accident must be cancellable. |
| 2.5.3 | Label in Name New in WCAG 2.1 | The visible label must be part of the accessible name. |
| 2.5.4 | Motion Actuation New in WCAG 2.1 | Functions triggered by shaking or tilting need an alternative. |
| 2.5.5 | Target Size (Enhanced) New in WCAG 2.1 | Targets are at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels. |
| 2.5.6 | Concurrent Input Mechanisms New in WCAG 2.1 | The available input method must not be restricted. |
| 2.5.7 | Dragging Movements New in WCAG 2.2 | Anything draggable must also work without dragging. |
| 2.5.8 | Target Size (Minimum) New in WCAG 2.2 | Targets are at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, or spaced far enough apart. |
| 3.1 Readable Principle 3: Understandable | ||
| 3.1.1 | Language of Page | The page language must be declared in code. |
| 3.1.2 | Language of Parts | Passages in another language are marked up. |
| 3.1.3 | Unusual Words | Jargon and idioms are explained. |
| 3.1.4 | Abbreviations | Abbreviations are expanded on first use. |
| 3.1.5 | Reading Level | If text requires more than lower secondary education, a simpler version exists. |
| 3.1.6 | Pronunciation | Where pronunciation is needed for meaning, it is provided. |
| 3.2 Predictable Principle 3: Understandable | ||
| 3.2.1 | On Focus | Focusing an element must not trigger a change of context. |
| 3.2.2 | On Input | Changing a setting must not automatically change context. |
| 3.2.3 | Consistent Navigation | Navigation appears in the same place and order on every page. |
| 3.2.4 | Consistent Identification | The same function is labelled the same way throughout. |
| 3.2.5 | Change on Request | Changes of context happen only on explicit request. |
| 3.2.6 | Consistent Help New in WCAG 2.2 | Help mechanisms appear in the same place across pages. |
| 3.3 Input Assistance Principle 3: Understandable | ||
| 3.3.1 | Error Identification | Input errors must be identified – in text. |
| 3.3.2 | Labels or Instructions | Input fields need labels. |
| 3.3.3 | Error Suggestion | Where possible, suggest how to fix the error. |
| 3.3.4 | Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | Consequential submissions can be checked, corrected or reversed. |
| 3.3.5 | Help | Context-sensitive help is available for forms. |
| 3.3.6 | Error Prevention (All) | Review, correction and reversal apply to all forms. |
| 3.3.7 | Redundant Entry New in WCAG 2.2 | Information already provided is not requested again. |
| 3.3.8 | Accessible Authentication (Minimum) New in WCAG 2.2 | Logging in must not require a cognitive function test. |
| 3.3.9 | Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) New in WCAG 2.2 | Object or image recognition is not permitted for logging in either. |
| 4.1 Compatible Principle 4: Robust | ||
| 4.1.1 | Parsing (removed) Removed in WCAG 2.2 | Removed in WCAG 2.2 – modern browsers recover from malformed markup. |
| 4.1.2 | Name, Role, Value | Every control must expose its name, role and state programmatically. |
| 4.1.3 | Status Messages New in WCAG 2.1 | Messages that appear without focus change must be announced. |
Wave Access tests your site against these criteria, corrects some of them in the delivered code, and tells you what to do about the rest.
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