Skip to main content

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

A practical guide for healthcare leaders navigating WCAG compliance.

Learn More
Need help with digital accessibility?
Our team is here to guide you through the process of meeting accessibility standards. Contact us today to get started.
Schedule Consult