WCAG 2.2 Compliance Guide
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 is the latest international standard for web accessibility. Published by W3C, it provides testable success criteria to make web content more accessible.
87
Success Criteria
4
Core Principles
3
Conformance Levels
The Four POUR Principles
WCAG is organized around four foundational principles that ensure web content is accessible to all users.
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Provide text alternatives for non-text content
- Provide captions and alternatives for multimedia
- Create content that can be presented in different ways
- Make it easier for users to see and hear content
User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users.
- Make all functionality available from a keyboard
- Give users enough time to read and use content
- Do not design content that causes seizures
- Provide ways to help users navigate and find content
Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.
- Make text content readable and understandable
- Make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways
- Help users avoid and correct mistakes
Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
- Maximize compatibility with assistive technologies
- Ensure parsing and name/role/value accessibility
Conformance Levels
WCAG defines three levels of conformance. Most regulations require Level AA compliance.
The most basic web accessibility features. These are the minimum requirements that every website should meet.
Impact: Essential - Without these, some users cannot access your content at all.
Addresses the most common barriers for disabled users. This is the standard most regulations require.
Impact: Recommended - The target for most legal compliance requirements.
The highest level of accessibility. Not always achievable for all content types.
Impact: Ideal - Best user experience but may not be feasible for all content.
What's New in WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2 was published in October 2023 and adds 9 new success criteria focused on users with cognitive disabilities, mobile users, and people with low vision.
| Criterion | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) | AA | When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, the component is not entirely hidden due to author-created content. |
| 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) | AAA | No part of the focused component is hidden by author-created content. |
| 2.4.13 Focus Appearance | AAA | Focus indicators have sufficient size and contrast. |
| 2.5.7 Dragging Movements | AA | Functionality that uses dragging can be achieved with a single pointer without dragging. |
| 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) | AA | Targets for pointer inputs are at least 24x24 CSS pixels. |
| 3.2.6 Consistent Help | A | Help mechanisms appear in the same relative order on pages. |
| 3.3.7 Redundant Entry | A | Information previously entered does not need to be re-entered. |
| 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) | AA | Cognitive function tests are not required for authentication. |
| 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) | AAA | No cognitive function test is required at any step of authentication. |
Related Compliance Standards
Check Your WCAG Compliance
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