WCAG 2.1

Ultimate Guide

This guide provides an overview of key Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) criteria. Each section explains a specific guideline, its importance for users with disabilities, how to implement it correctly, and provides code examples.

Description	Disabilities Affected	Success Criterion	Level	Link
Description: Allow Text Resizing Without Loss of Content or Functionality	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.4	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Allow User Customization of Text Visual Presentation	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.8	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Allow Users to Cancel Actions Triggered by Pointer Down-Events	Disabilities Affected: Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.5.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Allow Users to Disable Non-Essential Animation from Interactions	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Allow Users to Pause, Stop, or Hide Moving, Blinking, or Scrolling Content	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Allow Users to Postpone or Suppress Interruptions	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.4	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Allow Users to Turn Off, Adjust, or Extend Time Limits	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Avoid Content Flashing More Than Three Times Per Second	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 2.3.2	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Avoid Flashing Content More Than Three Times Per Second (or Ensure Below Threshold)	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 2.3.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Avoid Images of Text	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.9	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Avoid Requiring Cognitive Function Tests for Authentication	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.9	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Avoid Requiring Redundant Entry of Information	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility	Success Criterion: 3.3.7	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Avoid Time Limits Unless Essential	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.2.3	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Clarify Pronunciation Where Meaning is Ambiguous	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.1.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Do Not Cause Context Change When an Element Receives Focus	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Do Not Cause Context Change When an Input Setting Changes (Without Warning)	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Do Not Restrict Content View to a Single Orientation	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.3.4	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Do Not Restrict Use of Available Input Methods	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.5.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Don’t Rely Solely on Color to Convey Information	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Don’t Rely Solely on Sensory Characteristics for Instructions	Disabilities Affected: Hearing, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.3.3	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure a Logical Keyboard Focus Order	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.3	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure a Meaningful Reading Sequence for Content	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.3.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure Accessible Name Contains the Visible Label Text	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.5.3	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure All Functionality is Keyboard Accessible	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.1.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure All Functionality is Keyboard Operable Without Exception	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.1.3	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Consistent Identification of Components with the Same Function	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.4	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Consistent Navigation Order Across Pages	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.3	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Content Adapts to User-Adjusted Text Spacing	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.12	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Content Reflows Without Two-Dimensional Scrolling	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.10	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Context Changes Only Happen on User Request	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Hearing, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.5	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Controls Needed to Progress Are Visible Without Hover/Focus	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.7	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Enhanced Color Contrast for Text	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Focus Indicators Are Sufficiently Large and Contrasting	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.13	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Focused Elements Are Not Entirely Obscured	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.11	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Focused Elements Are Not Obscured At All	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.12	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure HTML Parses Correctly Without Errors	Disabilities Affected: Hearing, Visual	Success Criterion: 4.1.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure Name, Role, and Value Are Available for All UI Components	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 4.1.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Ensure Pointer Target Size is Sufficiently Large	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.5.5	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Pointer Target Size or Spacing is Sufficient	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.5.8	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Speech is Audible Over Background Sounds in Audio	Disabilities Affected: Hearing	Success Criterion: 1.4.7	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast for Text and UI Components (Minimum)	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.3	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure Sufficient Contrast for UI Components and Graphical Objects	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.11	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Ensure UI Components Are Visible Without Requiring Hover/Focus	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.8	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Identify Input Errors Clearly in Text	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Identify the Language of Specific Text Passages	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 3.1.2	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Identify the Primary Language of the Page	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 3.1.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Make At Least One Help Mechanism Consistently Findable	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Hearing, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.6	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Make Content Revealed on Hover/Focus Dismissible, Hoverable, and Persistent	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.13	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Make Link Purpose Clear From Link Text Alone	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.9	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Make Link Purpose Clear from Text or Context	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.4	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Make Status Messages Announceable by Assistive Technologies	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 4.1.3	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Preserve User Data Across Re-authentication	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.2.5	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Prevent Errors for All Form Submissions	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Hearing, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Prevent Errors for Legal, Financial, or Data Submission Actions	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Hearing, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.4	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Prevent Visible Controls from Disappearing Unexpectedly	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.2.8	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Programmatically Identify the Purpose of Common Input Fields	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.3.5	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Programmatically Identify the Purpose of Components, Icons, and Regions	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive	Success Criterion: 1.3.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide a Comprehensive Text Alternative for Prerecorded Media	Disabilities Affected: Hearing, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.2.8	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide a Text Alternative for Live Audio-Only Content	Disabilities Affected: Hearing	Success Criterion: 1.2.9	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide a Way to Bypass Repeated Blocks of Content	Disabilities Affected: Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Accessible Alternatives or Assistance for Cognitive Function Tests in Authentication	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.2.7	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Alternatives for Prerecorded Audio-Only and Video-Only Content	Disabilities Affected: Hearing	Success Criterion: 1.2.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Alternatives to Motion Actuation and Allow Disabling It	Disabilities Affected: Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.5.4	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Audio Description for Prerecorded Video Content	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.2.5	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Audio Description or a Media Alternative for Prerecorded Video	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.2.3	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Captions for Live Audio in Videos	Disabilities Affected: Hearing	Success Criterion: 1.2.4	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Context-Sensitive Help	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Hearing, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.5	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Control Over Single-Character Key Shortcuts	Disabilities Affected: Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.1.4	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Definitions for Unusual Words, Jargon, and Idioms	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive	Success Criterion: 3.1.3	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Descriptive and Informative Page Titles	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Extended Audio Description When Pauses Are Insufficient	Disabilities Affected: Visual	Success Criterion: 1.2.7	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Information About User’s Location Within the Site	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.8	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Multiple Ways to Navigate Website Pages	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.5	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Non-Dragging Alternatives for Dragging Movements	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.5.7	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Sign Language Interpretation for Prerecorded Video	Disabilities Affected: Hearing	Success Criterion: 1.2.6	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Simpler Alternatives for Complex Text	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive	Success Criterion: 3.1.5	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide Single-Pointer Alternatives for Complex Gestures	Disabilities Affected: Mobility	Success Criterion: 2.5.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide Suggestions for Correcting Input Errors	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.3.3	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Provide Text Alternatives for Non-Text Content	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.1.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Provide the Expanded Form of Abbreviations	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 3.1.4	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Provide User Control for Auto-Playing Audio	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.2	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Use Headings and Labels Correctly to Describe Topics and Purpose	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Mobility, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.6	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Use Markup to Convey Information, Structure, and Relationships	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.3.1	Level: A	Learn More
Description: Use Section Headings to Organize Content	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 2.4.10	Level: AAA	Learn More
Description: Use Text Instead of Images of Text	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive, Visual	Success Criterion: 1.4.5	Level: AA	Learn More
Description: Warn Users About Inactivity Duration Causing Data Loss	Disabilities Affected: Cognitive	Success Criterion: 2.2.1	Level: AAA	Learn More

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