View source for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

{{short description|Web accessibility guidelines}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox technology standard
| title = WCAG
| long_name = Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
| image = File:W3C® Icon.svg
| image_size = 
| alt = 
| caption = [[World Wide Web Consortium]] (W3C) logo
| abbreviation = WCAG
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| status = [[World Wide Web Consortium#W3C recommendation (REC)|W3C Recommendation]]
| year_started = {{Start date|1995|01|df=y}}
| first_published = {{Start date|1999|05|09|df=y}}
| version = 2.2
| version_date = {{Start date and age|2023|10|05}}<ref name="wcag-22">{{cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/|title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2|language=en|version=2.2|publisher=W3C|publication-date=2023-10-05|access-date=2023-10-05|editor1-first=Alastair|editor1-last=Campbell|editor2-first=Chuck|editor2-last=Adams|editor3-first=Rachael Bradley|editor3-last=Montgomery|editor4-first=Michael|editor4-last=Cooper|editor5-first=Andrew|editor5-last=Kirkpatrick|collaboration=Accessibility Guidelines Working Group|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005133303/https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| preview =  3.0 
| preview_date = {{Start date and age|2023|07|24}}<ref name="wcag-30">{{cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0/|title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0|language=en|version=3.0|publisher=W3C|publication-date=2023-07-24|access-date=2023-10-05|editor1-first=Jeanne|editor1-last=Spellman|editor2-first=Rachael Bradley|editor2-last=Montgomery|editor3-first=Michael|editor3-last=Cooper|editor4-first=Shawn|editor4-last=Lauriat|editor5-first=Chuck|editor5-last=Adams|editor6-first=Alastair|editor6-last=Campbell|collaboration=Accessibility Guidelines Working Group|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927063657/https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
| organization = [[World Wide Web Consortium|{{Abbr|W3C|World Wide Web Consortium}}]], [[International Organization for Standardization|{{abbr|ISO|International Organization for Standardization}}]], [[International Electrotechnical Commission|{{abbr|IEC|International Electrotechnical Commission}}]]<ref name="iso-standard">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iso.org/standard/58625.html|title=ISO - ISO/IEC 40500:2012 - Information technology — W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0|publication-date=2012|publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[International Electrotechnical Commission|IEC]]|website=ISO|access-date=2021-04-06|archive-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207014206/https://www.iso.org/standard/58625.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| committee = Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
| series = 
| editors = {{Plainlist|
* Andrew Kirkpatrick
* Joshue O Connor
* Alastair Campbell
* Ben Caldwell
* Michael Cooper
* Loretta Guarino Reid
* Gregg Vanderheiden
* Wendy Chisholm
* John Slatin
* Jason White
* Rachael Bradley Montgomery
* Jeanne Spellman
* Shawn Lauriat
}}<ref name="wcag-22" />
| authors = 
| base_standards = 
| related_standards = 
| domain = [[Web accessibility]]
| license = 
| copyright = © 2020–2023 W3C® (MIT, ERCIM, Keio, Beihang).
| website = {{Plainlist|
* [[W3C]]: {{URL|https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/}}
* [[ISO]] / [[International Electrotechnical Commission|IEC]]: {{URL|https://www.iso.org/standard/58625.html}}
}}
}}

The '''Web Content Accessibility Guidelines''' ('''WCAG''') are part of a series published by the [[Web Accessibility Initiative]] (WAI) of the [[World Wide Web Consortium]] (W3C), the main international standards organization for the Internet. They are a set of recommendations for making Web content more accessible, primarily for people with [[disabilities]]—but also for all [[user agent]]s, including highly limited devices, such as mobile phones. WCAG 2.0 was published in December 2008 and became an [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] standard, ISO/IEC 40500:2012 in October 2012.<ref name="iso-standard" /> WCAG 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023.<ref name="wcag-22" />

__TOC__

== History ==
=== Earlier guidelines (1995–1998) ===
The first web accessibility guideline was compiled by [[Gregg Vanderheiden]] and released in January 1995, just after the 1994 Second International Conference on the World-Wide Web (WWW II) in Chicago (where [[Tim Berners-Lee]] first mentioned disability access in a keynote speech after seeing a pre-conference workshop on accessibility led by [[Mike Paciello]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://trace.wisc.edu/archive/html_guidelines/version1.html
|title=Design of HTML (Mosaic) Pages to Increase their Accessibility to Users with Disabilities; Strategies for Today and Tomorrow
|last=Vanderheiden
|first=Gregg C.
|publisher=Trace Center, [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|date=31 January 1995
|access-date=2012-09-22
|archive-date=15 July 2012
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715151754/http://trace.wisc.edu/archive/html_guidelines/version1.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

Over 38 different Web access guidelines followed from various authors and organizations over the next few years.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/central.htm#REF.Ref
|title=References: Designing Accessible HTML Pages -- guidelines and overview documents
|publisher=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]
|access-date=2012-09-22
|archive-date=2 March 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302001833/http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/central.htm#REF.Ref
|url-status=live
}}</ref> These were brought together in the ''Unified Web Site Accessibility Guidelines'' compiled at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://trace.wisc.edu/
|title=Trace Center
|publisher=Trace Center, [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|access-date=2012-09-22
|archive-date=19 September 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919092108/http://trace.wisc.edu/
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
Version 8 of the ''Unified Web Site Accessibility Guidelines'', published in 1998, served as the starting point for the W3C's WCAG 1.0.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/central.htm
|title=Unified Web Site Accessibility Guidelines
|publisher=Trace Center, [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|editor-first=Gregg C.
|editor-last=Vanderheiden
|editor2-first=Wendy A.
|editor2-last=Chisholm
|date=20 January 1998
|access-date=2012-09-22
|archive-date=2 March 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302001833/http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/central.htm
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

===Version 1 (1999–2000)===
The WCAG 1.0 were published and became a [[W3C recommendation]] on 5 May 1999. In February 2008, The WCAG Samurai, a group of developers independent of the W3C, and led by [[Joe Clark (writer)|Joe Clark]], published corrections for, and extensions to, the WCAG 1.0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Page |url=http://www.wcagsamurai.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113063317/http://www.wcagsamurai.org |archive-date=2013-01-13 |website=WCAG Samurai}}</ref>

=== Version 2 (2001–present) ===
The first concept proposal of WCAG 2.0 was published on 25 January 2001. In the following years new versions were published intended to solicit feedback from accessibility experts and members of the disability community. On 27 April 2006 a "Last Call Working Draft" was published.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-04-27 |editor1-last=Caldwell |editor1-first=Ben |editor2-last=Chisholm |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Slatin |editor3-first=John |editor4-last=Vanderheiden |editor4-first=Gregg |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 – W3C Working Draft 27 April 2006 |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-WCAG20-20060427/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425152015/http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-WCAG20-20060427/ |archive-date=25 April 2014 |access-date=2021-04-06 |publisher=W3C |collaboration=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group}}</ref> Due to the many amendments that were necessary, WCAG 2.0 was published again as a concept proposal on 17 May 2007, followed by a second "Last Call Working Draft" on 11 December 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=2007-05-17 |editor1-last=Caldwell |editor1-first=Ben |editor2-last=Cooper |editor2-first=Michael |editor3-last=Guarino Reid |editor3-first=Loretta |editor4-last=Vanderheiden |editor4-first=Gregg |editor5-last=Chisholm |editor5-first=Wendy |editor6-last=Slatin |editor6-first=John |editor7-last=White |editor7-first=Jason |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 – W3C Working Draft 17 May 2007 |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-WCAG20-20070517/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623192307/http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-WCAG20-20070517/ |archive-date=23 June 2014 |access-date=2021-04-06 |publisher=W3C |collaboration=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2017-12-11 |editor1-last=Caldwell |editor1-first=Ben |editor2-last=Cooper |editor2-first=Michael |editor3-last=Guarino Reid |editor3-first=Loretta |editor4-last=Vanderheiden |editor4-first=Gregg |editor5-last=Chisholm |editor5-first=Wendy |editor6-last=Slatin |editor6-first=John |editor7-last=White |editor7-first=Jason |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 – W3C Working Draft 11 December 2007 |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-WCAG20-20071211/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428155412/http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-WCAG20-20071211/ |archive-date=28 April 2014 |access-date=2021-04-06 |publisher=W3C |collaboration=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group}}</ref> In April 2008 the guidelines became a "Candidate Recommendation".<ref>{{cite web |title=WCAG 2.0 Candidate Recommendation Implementation Information |url=http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/CR/Overview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809145013/https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/CR/Overview.html |archive-date=9 August 2022 |access-date=21 April 2014 |publisher=W3C}}</ref> On 3 November 2008 the guidelines became a "Proposed Recommendation". WCAG 2.0 was published as a W3C Recommendation on 11 December 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – W3C Recommendation 11 December 2008 |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234943/http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/ |archive-date=28 June 2018 |access-date=27 July 2013 |publisher=W3.org}}</ref><ref>W3C: [http://www.w3.org/2008/12/wcag20-pressrelease.html W3C Web Standard Defines Accessibility for Next Generation Web] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212214910/http://www.w3.org/2008/12/wcag20-pressrelease.html|date=12 December 2008}} (press release, 11 December 2008).</ref> In October 2012, WCAG 2.0 were accepted by the [[International Organization for Standardization]] as an ISO International Standard, ISO/IEC 40500:2012.<ref name="W3C-ISO">{{cite web |last=Henry |first=Shawn |date=2012-10-15 |title=WCAG 2.0 is now also ISO/IEC 40500! |url=http://www.w3.org/QA/2012/10/wcag_20_is_now_also_isoiec_405.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909140755/http://www.w3.org/QA/2012/10/wcag_20_is_now_also_isoiec_405.html |archive-date=9 September 2013 |access-date=23 October 2012 |publisher=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]}}</ref><ref name="W3C-announce">{{cite web |date=2012-10-15 |title=W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 approved as an ISO/IEC International Standard |url=http://www.w3.org/2012/07/wcag2pas-pr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018085658/http://www.w3.org/2012/07/wcag2pas-pr.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 |access-date=23 October 2012 |publisher=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]}}</ref><ref name="ISO">{{cite web |title=ISO/IEC 40500:2012 - Information technology -- W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 |url=http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=58625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308114523/http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=58625 |archive-date=8 March 2013 |access-date=23 October 2012 |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]}}</ref><ref name="iso-standard" /> In early 2014, WCAG 2.0's Level A and Level AA success criteria were incorporated as references in clause 9.2 ("Web content requirements") of the European standard [[EN 301 549]] published by [[ETSI]].<ref>ETSI: [http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/301500_301599/301549/01.01.02_60/en_301549v010102p.pdf EN 301 549  V1.1.1  (2014-02): Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031080746/http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/301500_301599/301549/01.01.02_60/en_301549v010102p.pdf|date=31 October 2015}}. Accessed 27 November 2015.</ref> EN 301 549 was produced in response to a mandate that the European Commission gave to the three official European standardisation bodies ([[European Committee for Standardization|CEN]], [[European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization|CENELEC]] and ETSI) and is the first European standard for ICT products and services.<ref>CEN-CENELEC: [http://www.cencenelec.eu/News/Press_Releases/Pages/PR-2014-03.aspx New European Standard will help to make ICT products and services accessible for all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208180713/http://www.cencenelec.eu/News/Press_Releases/Pages/PR-2014-03.aspx|date=8 December 2015}}. 19 February 2014. Accessed 27 November 2015.</ref><ref>CEN-CENELEC: [http://www.cencenelec.eu/standards/Sectors/Accessibility/PublicProcurement/Pages/M376.aspx Mandate 376] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310064556/http://www.cencenelec.eu/standards/Sectors/Accessibility/PublicProcurement/Pages/M376.aspx|date=10 March 2016}}. (No date). Accessed 27 November 2015.</ref>

WCAG 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023.<ref name="wcag-22" /> Nine new criteria make their definitive debut in this new version of the WCAG standard. New sections have also been introduced that detail aspects of the specification which may impact privacy and security.

===Version 3 (under development)===
In early 2021, the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group presented the first public working draft (FPWD) of the future WCAG 3.0, intended to provide a range of recommendations for making web content more accessible. The [https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0/ WCAG 3.0 working draft] was last updated in December 2024. No part of WCAG 3.0 is an official recommendation at this time. WCAG 3.0 is a draft undergoing significant development efforts, and the expected release date as an official recommendation is not defined.

==Versions==

===Version 1===
WCAG 1.0 consist of 14 guidelines—each of which describes a general principle of accessible design. Each guideline covers a basic theme of web accessibility and is associated with one or more checkpoints that describes how to apply that guideline to particular webpage features.

* Guideline 1: Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content 
* Guideline 2: Do not rely on colour alone
* Guideline 3: Use markup and style sheets, and do so properly
* Guideline 4: Clarify natural language usage
* Guideline 5: Create tables that transform gracefully
* Guideline 6: Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully
* Guideline 7: Ensure user control of time sensitive content changes
* Guideline 8: Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces
* Guideline 9: Design for device independence
* Guideline 10: User interim solutions
* Guideline 11: Use [[W3C]] technologies and guidelines
* Guideline 12: Provide context and orientation information
* Guideline 13: Provide clear navigation mechanisms
* Guideline 14: Ensure that documents are clear and simple

Each of the in total 65 WCAG 1.0 checkpoints has an assigned ''priority level'' based on the checkpoint's impact on accessibility:

* Priority 1: Web developers '''must''' satisfy these requirements, otherwise it will be impossible for one or more groups to access the Web content. Conformance to this level is described as ''A.''
* {{Anchor|WCAG 1.0 AA}}Priority 2: Web developers '''should''' satisfy these requirements, otherwise some groups will find it difficult to access the Web content. Conformance to this level is described as ''AA'' or ''Double-A.''
* {{Anchor|WCAG 1.0 AAA}}Priority 3: Web developers '''may''' satisfy these requirements to make it easier for some groups to access the Web content. Conformance to this level is described as ''AAA'' or ''Triple-A.''

===Version 2===
WCAG 2.0 consist of twelve guidelines organized under four principles (websites must be ''perceivable'', ''operable'', ''understandable'', and ''robust''). Each guideline has testable success criteria (61 in all).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/ |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 |publisher=W3C |access-date=2014-12-17 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218045254/http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The W3C's Techniques for WCAG 2.0<ref>{{cite web  |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/  |title=Techniques for WCAG 2.0  |publisher=W3C  |access-date=2014-12-17  |archive-date=20 December 2014  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220203855/http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/  |url-status=live  }}</ref> is a list of techniques that help authors meet the guidelines and success criteria. The techniques are periodically updated whereas the principles, guidelines and success criteria are stable and do not change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/understanding-techniques.html |title=Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria |publisher=W3C |access-date=2014-12-17 |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218011143/http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/understanding-techniques.html |url-status=live }}</ref> WCAG 2.0 uses the same three ''levels of conformance'' (''A, AA, AAA'') as WCAG 1.0, but has redefined them. The WCAG working group maintains an extensive list of web accessibility techniques and common failure cases for WCAG 2.0.<ref>{{cite web |title=Techniques for WCAG 2.0 |url=http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727130604/http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/ |archive-date=27 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013 |publisher=W3.org}}</ref>

WCAG 2.1 is backwards-compatible with WCAG 2.0, which it extends with a further 17 success criteria.

WCAG 2.2 is backwards-compatible with WCAG 2.1 extending it a further nine success criteria and with WCAG 2.0 extending it a further 26 success criteria (including the 17 success criteria introduced by WCAG 2.1). Additionally, WCAG 2.2 has deprecated and removed the 4.1.1 success criterion.<ref name="wcag-22-411">{{cite web |title=Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2|url=https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#parsing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204050230/https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#parsing |archive-date=4 February 2024 |access-date=6 February 2024 |publisher=W3.org}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible plainlinks"
|+ WCAG 2 Guidelines
! scope="col" | Principles
! scope="col" | Guidelines
! scope="col" | Success Criteria
! scope="col" | Conformance Level
! scope="col" | Revision
|-
! rowspan="29" scope="row" | 1: Perceivable
|1.1 Text Alternatives
|1.1.1 Non-text Content
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
| rowspan="9" |1.2 Time-based Media
|1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.4 Captions (Live)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.6 Sign Language (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
| rowspan="6" |1.3 Adaptable
|1.3.1 Info and Relationships
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.3.4 Orientation
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|1.3.6 Identify Purpose
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
| rowspan="13" |1.4 Distinguishable
|1.4.1 Use of Color
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.2 Audio Control
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.4 Resize text
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.5 Images of Text
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.8 Visual Presentation
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|1.4.10 Reflow
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|1.4.11 Non-Text Contrast
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|1.4.12 Text Spacing
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
! rowspan="34" scope="row" | 2: Operable
| rowspan="4" |2.1 Keyboard Accessible
|2.1.1 Keyboard
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.1.3 Keyboard (No Exception)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
| rowspan="6" |2.2 Enough Time
|2.2.1 Timing Adjustable
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.2.3 No Timing
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.2.4 Interruptions
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.2.5 Re-authenticating
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.2.6 Timeouts
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
| rowspan="3" |2.3 Seizures
|2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.3.2 Three Flashes
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.3.3 Animation from Interactions
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
| rowspan="13" |2.4 Navigable
|2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.2 Page Titled
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
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|2.4.3 Focus Order
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.5 Multiple Ways
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
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|2.4.6 Headings and Labels
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.7 Focus Visible
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.8 Location
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.10 Section Headings
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
|2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
|2.4.13 Focus Appearance
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
| rowspan="8" |2.5 Input Modalities
|2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
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|2.5.3 Label in Name
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
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|2.5.4 Motion Actuation
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|-
|2.5.5 Target Size
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
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|2.5.6 Concurrent Input Mechanisms
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
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|2.5.7 Dragging Movements
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
|2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
! rowspan="21" scope="row" | 3: Understandable
| rowspan="6" |3.1 Readable
|3.1.1 Language of Page
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.1.2 Language of Parts
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
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|3.1.3 Unusual Words
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.1.4 Abbreviations
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
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|3.1.5 Reading Level
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.1.6 Pronunciation
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
| rowspan="6" |3.2 Predictable
|3.2.1 On Focus
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.2.2 On Input
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.2.3 Consistent Navigation
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.2.4 Consistent Identification
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.2.5 Change on Request
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.2.6 Consistent Help
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
| rowspan="9" |3.3 Input Assistance
|3.3.1 Error Identification
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.2 Labels or Instructions
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.3 Error Suggestion
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.5 Help
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.6 Error Prevention (All)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|3.3.7 Redundant Entry
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
|3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum)
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
|3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced)
| {{Won|place=1|AAA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.2
|-
! rowspan="3" scope="row" | 4: Robust
| rowspan="3" |4.1 Compatible
| {{strikethrough|4.1.1 Parsing}} (deprecated by WCAG 2.2<ref name="wcag-22-411"/>)
| {{Won|place=3|{{strikethrough|A}}}}
| style="text-align: center;" | {{strikethrough|2.0}}
|-
|[https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#name-role-value 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value]
| {{Won|place=3|A}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.0
|-
|[https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#status-messages 4.1.3 Status Messages]
| {{Won|place=2|AA}}
| style="text-align: center;" | 2.1
|}

== WCAG referenced by law ==
This section only refers to specific instances where WCAG, or a closely related derivative thereof, is specifically codified into law. There are many laws relating to accessibility in general and which may apply to websites, though they do not necessarily refer to WCAG. It is nevertheless considered prudent to follow WCAG guidelines to help protect against potential lawsuits relating to accessibility.<ref name=outlaw>{{cite web|title=Disabled access to websites under UK law|url=http://www.out-law.com/page-330|publisher=Out-Law.com|access-date=15 January 2015|date=October 2011|archive-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228073733/http://www.out-law.com/page-330|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some jurisdictions are moving to build legislation around the latest recommended release of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative. This ensures that the policies remain up to date.

=== Australia ===
The Australian government has also mandated via the [[Disability Discrimination Act 1992]] that all Australian government websites meet the WCAG 2.0 level A accessibility requirements.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accessibility|url=https://australia.gov.au/accessibility|access-date=20 December 2022|publisher=Web Guide}}</ref>

=== Canada ===
Regulations under the [[Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005]] require that public web content of certain Ontario organizations complies with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

In 2010 [[Donna Jodhan]] brought a case to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] against the [[Government of Canada]]. In 2012 the Supreme Court arrived at what is now known as the Jodhan decision<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/blog/jodhan |title=Jodhan decision |publisher=Ccdonline.ca |date=2012-05-30 |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728154228/http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/blog/jodhan |url-status=live }}</ref> caused the Canadian federal government to require all online web pages, documents and videos available externally and internally to meet the accessibility requirements of WCAG 2.0.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=23601 |title=Canadian Treasury Board Secretariat Standard on Web Accessibility |publisher=Tbs-sct.gc.ca |date=2011-08-01 |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723232132/http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=23601 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, the Government of Canada implemented the [[Accessible Canada Act]].

=== European Union ===
[[Web Accessibility Directive|Directive 2016/2102]]<ref name="directive-2016-2102">{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/2102/oj |title=Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (Text with EEA relevance) |publisher=[[Publications Office of the European Union]] |date=2016-10-26 |access-date=2019-04-30 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430110545/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/2102/oj |url-status=live }}</ref> requires websites and mobile applications of public sector (i.e. government) bodies to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CONSIL:ST_11407_2016_INIT&from=DE |title=COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT pursuant to Article 294(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union concerning the position of the Council on the adoption of a Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies |publisher=[[Publications Office of the European Union]] |date=2016-07-18 |access-date=2017-02-10 |archive-date=9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609170545/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CONSIL:ST_11407_2016_INIT&from=DE |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cid-2018-2048" /> As of June 2021, the directive covers websites and mobile apps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016L2102#d1e1150-1-1 |title=DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/2102 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies, Article 12 |publisher=[[Publications Office of the European Union]] |date=2016-10-26 |access-date=2017-02-10 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080433/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016L2102#d1e1150-1-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[European Parliament]] approved the directive in October 2016,<ref name="directive-2016-2102" /> the [[European Commission]] updated the WCAG reference from 2.0 to 2.1 in December 2018.<ref name="cid-2018-2048">{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2018/2048/oj |title=Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2048 of 20 December 2018 on the harmonised standard for websites and mobile applications drafted in support of Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council |publisher=[[Publications Office of the European Union]] |date=2018-12-20 |access-date=2019-04-30 |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412235226/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2018/2048/oj |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The [[European Accessibility Act]] (EAA) will become legally applicable in EU member states on 28 June 2025. The EAA will require websites, apps, ebooks, ecommerce platforms, PDFs and others to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA criteria within the EU.

=== Israel ===
The Israeli Ministry of Justice published regulations in early 2014, requiring Internet websites to comply with Israeli Standard 5568, which is based on the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.

The main differences between the Israeli standard and the W3C standard concern the requirements to provide captions and texts for audio and video media. The Israeli standards are somewhat more lenient, reflecting the current technical difficulties in providing such captions and texts in Hebrew.<ref>{{cite web |title=Making the web accessible |url=https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/Guides/website_accessibility?chapterIndex=2 |newspaper=Gov.il |publisher=State of Israel |access-date=22 June 2022 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622163424/https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/Guides/website_accessibility?chapterIndex=2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://israeltechnologylaw.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/website-accessibility-requirements/ |   archive-url =   https://web.archive.org/web/20140928203000/http://israeltechnologylaw.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/website-accessibility-requirements/ |    archive-date  = 2014-09-28|access-date = 2022-06-22 | website = Israel Technology Law Blog  | title= Website Accessibility Requirements}}</ref>

=== Norway ===
In 2013, the Ministry of Public Administration and Church Affairs announced ''[https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-06-21-732 Regulations on universal design of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions]'', under the ''Equality and Accessibility Act.'' The regulations obliges both private and public bodies to adhere to universal design and require that “web solutions shall at least be designed in accordance with the WCAG 2.0 standard, at levels A and AA, with the exception of success criteria 1.2.3, 1.2.4 and 1.2.5, or an equivalent standard.”

=== United Kingdom ===
In September 2018, website and mobile app accessibility regulations for the public sector came into force, titled  the ''Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018'', which currently applies the WCAG 2.1 AA level to websites operated by the "public sector", which means government agencies or organizations funded by the government, with some exclusions. The UK government published ''Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps |title=Understanding accessibility requirements for public sector bodies |date=22 August 2022 |publisher=Central Digital & Data Office |access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref> to guide compliance.

The UK government is yet to announce if it will confirm the European Accessibility Act (EAA) into local law, but companies in the UK and outside of the EU will need to comply with EAA if they sell products or services in any EU member state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=How The European Accessibility Act may Impact UK Websites |url=https://www.ronins.co.uk/european-accessibility-act-uk/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.ronins.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== United States ===
In 2013, the [[US Department of Transportation]] amended its regulations implementing the [[Air Carrier Access Act]] (ACAA) to require Airlines make their websites accessible, requiring conformance to WCAG 2.0, meeting Level AA Success Criteria.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel: Accessibility of Web Sites and Automated Kiosks at U.S. Airports |url=https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Kiosk-website-FR-final%20rule.pdf |website=transportation.gov |publisher=US Department of Transportation |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> 

In January 2017, the [[US Access Board]] approved a final rule to update [[Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973|Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973]]. The new rule adopts seventeen WCAG 2.0 success criteria, but 22 of the 38 existing A-level and AA-level criteria were already covered by existing Section 508 guidelines. The rule requires adherence to the new standards twelve months from its date of publication in the federal register.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1877/ict-rule.pdf |title=Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Final Standards and Guidelines |publisher=United States Access Board |date=9 January 2017 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023062748/http://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1877/ict-rule.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-regulatory-impact-analysis#_Toc471376817 |title=Final Regulatory Impact Analysis: Final Rule to Update the Section 508 Standards and Section 255 Guidelines |publisher=United States Access Board |date=5 January 2017 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315010247/https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-regulatory-impact-analysis#_Toc471376817 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December, 2021 the 11th circuit court vacated a sometimes-cited case from 2017, which had referred to the WCAG guidelines as "industry standard". The 11th circuit court's ruling rendered the 2017 case moot.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://content.next.westlaw.com/practical-law/document/I36828fcc787e11ec9f24ec7b211d8087/Eleventh-Circuit-Vacates-Gil-v-Winn-Dixie-Opinion-Due-to-Mootness?productData=categoryPageUrl%3AHome%2FPracticalLaw%2FPracticalLawCommercialTransactions&navId=E106D9129FCCA446F2EFD736D4BD508F&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=%28sc.Default%29&firstPage=true&viewType=FullText |title=Eleventh Circuit Vacates Gil v. Winn-Dixie Opinion Due to Mootness
 |access-date=7 December 2022 }}</ref> As such, the case is no longer citable as caselaw. On March 2, 2022, the 11th circuit court refused to rehear the case.

On April 24, 2024, the Federal Register published the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule states that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA is the technical standard for state and local governments’ web content and mobile apps.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/ |title=Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments - ADA.gov |access-date=3 July 2024 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{external links|date=September 2019}}
* [http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ W3C – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2]
* [http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag.php W3C – Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) introduction to WCAG]
* [http://mauve.isti.cnr.it Mauve], a free online accessibility validator, developed by [http://hiis.isti.cnr.it HIIS Lab] – ISTI of [[National Research Council of Italy|CNR]] of [[Pisa]] (Italy).
* [http://wave.webaim.org WAVE – Online accessibility validator]
* [http://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist WCAG 2.0 checklist]
* [https://www.aiim.org/Global/AIIM_Widgets/Community_Widgets/Achieving_WCAG Achieving WCAG 2.0 with PDF/UA – Document published by the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM)]
* [http://www.alttag.ca WCAG for eLearning - Training Accessibility Guidelines]
* [https://www.microassist.com/digital-accessibility/digital-accessibility-checklist/ Digital Accessibility WCAG AA Checklist: 10 Critical Elements to Evaluate for Website Accessibility]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130113063317/http://www.wcagsamurai.org/erratas/introduction/ WCAG Samurai Errata]
* [https://www.paciellogroup.com/the-history-of-digital-accessibility-and-why-it-matters/ The History of Digital Accessibility and Why it Matters]

{{Web accessibility}}
{{W3C standards}}
{{ISO standards}}

[[Category:Web accessibility]]
[[Category:Game accessibility]]
[[Category:ISO standards]]