WebAIM's WCAG 2 Checklist
WebAIM Accessibility Testing Services
The experts at WebAIM can audit your web site and provide a detailed report to help you remediate accessibility and WCAG compliance issues.
Important!
The following is NOT the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. It is a checklist that presents our recommendations for implementing the most common accessibility principles and techniques for those seeking WCAG conformance. The language used here significantly simplifies and condenses the official WCAG 2.2 specification and supporting materials to make it easier to implement and verify for web pages. The checklist contains links to the official success criteria.
A PDF version of this checklist is also available
Perceivable
Web content is made available to the senses - sight, hearing, and/or touch
Guideline 1.1
Provide text alternatives for any non-text content
1.1.1 Non-text Content
A 2.0
- Images, image buttons, and image map hot spots have appropriate, equivalent alternative text.
- Images that do not convey content, are decorative, or contain content that is already conveyed in text are given empty alternative text (
alt="") or implemented as CSS backgrounds. All linked images have descriptive alternative text. - Equivalent alternatives to complex images are provided in context or on a separate linked page.
- Form buttons have a descriptive value.
- Inputs have associated accessible names.
- Embedded multimedia is identified via accessible text.
- Frames and iframes are appropriately titled.
Guideline 1.2
Provide alternatives for time-based media.
NOTE: If the audio or video is designated as an alternative to web content (e.g., an audio or sign language version of a web page), then the web content itself serves as the alternative.
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
A 2.0
- A descriptive transcript of relevant content is provided for non-live audio-only (audio podcasts, MP3 files, etc.).
- A descriptive transcript or audio description of relevant content is provided for non-live video-only, unless the video is decorative.
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
A 2.0
- Synchronized captions are provided for non-live video (YouTube videos, etc.).
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
A 2.0
- A descriptive transcript or audio description is provided for non-live video.
NOTE: Only required if there is relevant visual content that is not presented in the audio.
1.2.4 Captions (Live)
AA 2.0
- Synchronized captions are provided for live media that contains audio (audio-only broadcasts, web casts, video conferences, etc.)
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)
AA 2.0
- Audio descriptions are provided for non-live video.
NOTE: Only required if there is relevant visual content that is not presented in the audio. - While not required at Level AA, for optimal accessibility WebAIM recommends descriptive transcripts in addition to audio descriptions.
1.2.6 Sign Language (Prerecorded)
AAA 2.0
- A sign language video is provided for media that contains audio.
1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
AAA 2.0
- When audio description cannot be added to video due to insufficient pauses in the audio, an alternative version of the video with pauses that allow audio descriptions is provided.
1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
AAA 2.0
- A descriptive transcript is provided for pre-recorded media that has a video track. For optimal accessibility, WebAIM strongly recommends transcripts for all multimedia.
1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)
AAA 2.0
- A descriptive text transcript (e.g., the script of the live audio) is provided for live content that has audio.
Guideline 1.3
Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure.
1.3.1 Info and Relationships
A 2.0
- Semantic markup is appropriately used to designate headings, regions/landmarks, lists, emphasized or special text, etc.
- Tables are used for tabular data and data cells are associated with their headers. Data table captions, if present, are associated to data tables.
- Text labels are associated with form inputs. Related form controls are grouped with fieldset/legend. ARIA labelling may be used when standard HTML is insufficient.
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence
A 2.0
- The reading and navigation order (determined by code order) is logical and intuitive.
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics
A 2.0
- Instructions do not rely upon shape, size, or visual location (e.g., "Click the square icon to continue" or "Instructions are in the right-hand column").
- Instructions do not rely upon sound (e.g., "A beeping sound indicates you may continue.").
1.3.4 Orientation
AA 2.1
- Orientation of web content is not restricted to only portrait or landscape, unless a specific orientation is necessary.
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose
AA 2.1
- Input fields that collect certain types of user information have an appropriate
autocompleteattribute defined.
1.3.6 Identify Purpose
AAA 2.1
- Regions/landmarks are used to identify page regions.
- ARIA is used, where appropriate, to enhance HTML semantics to better identify the purpose of interface components.
Guideline 1.4
Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.
1.4.1 Use of Color
A 2.0
- Color is not used as the sole method of conveying content or distinguishing visual elements.
- Color alone is not used to distinguish links from surrounding text unless the contrast ratio between the link and the surrounding text is at least 3:1 and an additional distinction (e.g., it becomes underlined) is provided when the link is hovered over and receives keyboard focus.
1.4.2 Audio Control
A 2.0
- A mechanism is provided to stop, pause, mute, or adjust volume for audio that automatically plays on a page for more than 3 seconds.
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
AA 2.0
- Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
- Large text - at least 18 point (typically 24px) or 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold - has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1.
1.4.4 Resize text
AA 2.0
- The page is readable and functional when the page is zoomed to 200%. NOTE: 1.4.10 (below) introduces additional requirements for zoomed content.
1.4.5 Images of Text
AA 2.0
- If the same visual presentation can be made using text alone, an image is not used to present that text.
1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)
AAA 2.0
- Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1.
- Large text - at least 18 point (typically 24px) or 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold - has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio
AAA 2.0
- Audio with speech has no or very low background noise so the speech is easily distinguished.
1.4.8 Visual Presentation
AAA 2.0
- Blocks of text over one sentence in length:
- Are no more than 80 characters wide.
- Are NOT fully justified (aligned to both the left and the right margins).
- Have adequate line spacing (at least 1/2 the height of the text) and paragraph spacing (1.5 times line spacing).
- Have defined or inherited foreground and background colors.
- Do NOT require horizontal scrolling when the text size is doubled.
1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception)
AAA 2.0
- Text is used within an image only for decoration (the image does not convey content) OR when the information cannot be presented with text alone.
1.4.10 Reflow
AA 2.1
- No loss of content or functionality occurs, and horizontal scrolling is avoided when content is presented at a width of 320 pixels.
- This requires responsive design for most web sites. This is best tested by setting the browser window to 1280 pixels wide and then zooming the page content to 400%.
- Content that requires horizontal scrolling, such as data tables, complex images (such as maps and charts), toolbars, etc. are exempted.
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
AA 2.1
- A contrast ratio of at least 3:1 is present for differentiating graphical objects (such as icons and components of charts or graphs) and author-customized interface components (such as buttons, form controls, and focus indicators/outlines).
- At least 3:1 contrast is maintained in the various states (focus, hover, active, etc.) of author-customized interactive components.
1.4.12 Text Spacing
AA 2.1
- No loss of content or functionality occurs when the user adapts paragraph spacing to 2 times the font size, text line height/spacing to 1.5 times the font size, word spacing to .16 times the font size, and letter spacing to .12 times the font size.
- This is best supported by avoiding pixel height definitions for elements that contain text.
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus
AA 2.1
- When additional content is presented on hover or keyboard focus:
- The newly revealed content can be dismissed (generally via the Esc key) without moving the pointer or keyboard focus, unless the content presents an input error or does not obscure or interfere with other page content.
- The pointer can be moved to the new content without the content disappearing.
- The new content must remain visible until the pointer or keyboard focus is moved away from the triggering control, the new content is dismissed, or the new content is no longer relevant.