WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are a set of rules and standards that help make the digital world accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines help website creators ensure their content is accessible to everyone, including people with visual, hearing, cognitive, or physical disabilities. Throughout this blog, we will cover everything you need to know to understand WCAG, including all the common FAQs.
What Is POUR and Why Is It Critical to WCAG Standards?
POUR covers the four key principles of WCAG and stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Let’s break it down in more detail:
- Perceivable: This means information must be perceivable to people using only one of their senses. For example, images need alternative text for those who can’t see them.
- Operable: Users must be able to interact with all website features. For example, it should be easily navigable with just a keyboard or voice controls for non-mouse users.
- Understandable: Content and website functions must be easy for users to follow and comprehend.
- Robust: The website must work well with assistive technologies (like screen readers) and stay functional as new technologies develop.
What Are the WCAG Versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2?
Continuous updates and new versions of WCAG ensure that accessibility standards stay up with technological changes. Let’s take a look at how WCAG has evolved over time:
- WCAG 1.0 was released in May 1999, covering 14 guidelines and the A, AA, and AAA conformance level hierarchy.
- WCAG 2.0 was published in 2008, introducing POUR and redefining the A, AA, and AAA conformance levels.
- WCAG 2.1 was released in June 2018 and builds on the 2.0 guidelines. It covers considerations for the accessibility of mobile devices and tablets not addressed in WCAG 2.0. Overall, WCAG 2.1 introduced 17 additional success criteria.
- WCAG 2.2 incorporates 9 additional criteria to the existing guidelines, many of which relate to barriers for users with visual, mobility, hearing, and cognitive disabilities.
Does Meeting WCAG Requirements Mean Complying With the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)?
WCAG and ADA are different in the sense that ADA is a law that mandates accessibility in public and online spaces, while WCAG provides detailed guidelines on how to create accessible websites. Following WCAG standards is a common way to meet ADA’s legal requirements.
Does My Small Website Need to Follow ADA and WCAG Accessibility Requirements?
Yes. The ADA applies to all businesses that serve the public, regardless of size. Accessibility is essential for everyone, so whether your website is large or small, it should follow WCAG and ADA standards.
Why Is WCAG Considered the Gold Standard in Accessibility Compliance Standards?
WCAG provides in-depth guidelines that are comprehensive enough for all websites and governments to follow, ensuring accessibility for websites and digital platforms across all technologies. The WCAG guide has also been translated into multiple languages, demonstrating how it is the most widely accepted standard worldwide.
WCAG standards are regularly updated to address new technologies and ensure the requirements are comprehensive enough for UX/UI designers, developers, testers, and end-users to follow as well. Not only this but these guidelines are also often referenced in court cases where businesses were court-ordered to upgrade their digital services to those standards.
How Can an Inaccessible Website Cause Legal Difficulties?
A WCAG failure occurs when a website or digital product does not meet one or more of the standards we discussed earlier. Interestingly, a 2024 study by WebAIM found that 96.4% of all WCAG errors and failures fall into one of six categories:
- Low contrast text
- Missing alternative text for images
- Missing form input labels
- Empty links
- Empty buttons
- Missing document language
Inaccessible websites are a serious legal risk, with thousands of accessibility lawsuits filed each year against both large and small businesses. In fact, the percentage of smaller companies being sued outpaced larger companies in 2021.
In the same WebAIM study referenced above, it was found that a shocking 95.9% of U.S. web pages had some form of WCAG 2 failure, with 50+ errors on each homepage. By carefully following WCAG standards, businesses can reduce the risk of legal troubles and ensure their websites are accessible to all.
How Do I Know if My Website Is Compliant With WCAG Standards?
To ensure compliance with WCAG, your website must follow the four principles we discussed earlier in the acronym “POUR”, which stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
Can Any Website Be Fully ADA-Compliant?
It’s not possible for a website to be 100% ADA-compliant at all times. Given that websites and accessibility guidelines constantly evolve, ongoing monitoring and updates are needed to maintain compliance.
What Is the Difference Between WCAG Levels A, AA, and AAA? (With Examples of WCAG Levels)
WCAG levels range from A (minimum accessibility) to AA (mid-range accessibility) to AAA (highest accessibility). Here’s a quick example of each:
- Level A example: Provide alternative text for images so screen readers can describe them.
- Level AA example: Text and background must have the proper color contrast (a minimum of 4.5 to 1)
- Level AAA example: Provide sign language interpretation for video content.
What Is WCAG Compliance With Levels A, AA, and AAA?
WCAG AA is the most widely accepted standard, and while AAA compliance will undoubtedly help the most people, it’s important to know even the creators of the WCAG guidelines admit it’s not possible for all content to satisfy the requirements.
Most websites aim for WCAG AA because it provides accessibility while still remaining achievable.
If I Reach WCAG AAA, Does That Mean I Conform With Other Levels as Well?
Yes. Achieving WCAG AAA means your website also meets the requirements for the lower levels (A and AA). It also means you are compliant with older WCAG versions, such as WCAG 1.0 and 2.0.
Is Meeting WCAG 2.1 AA Standards Good Enough?
Yes, WCAG 2.1 AA is the mid-range standard that most organizations aim for. It goes beyond the basic requirements of Level A but is more achievable than the highest AAA level, which is not always possible to achieve.
Web Accessibility Training Videos and Webinars Resources
If you’re intrigued to learn more on this topic, below are some websites that provide web accessibility training and resources: