What is WCAG?
WCAG is a set of technical standards that, when followed, improve the accessibility of web content, websites, and web applications for people with a wide range of disabilities. Many of the guidelines can also be used to improve mobile applications, self-service kiosk software, and other digital experiences. Importantly, following WCAG also helps organizations comply with various legal mandates, like:
In some cases, to comply with legal requirements, web content must conform with WCAG standards.
The WCAG POUR principles
WCAG is organized by four main principles, which state that content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. They are often referred to by the acronym POUR.
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Perceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. For example, it’s important to present information that can be perceived in different ways, where a user can adjust color contrast or font size, or view captions for videos.
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Operable
User interface components and navigation must be functional for users in ways they can operate. For example, a user must be able to perform required interactions using a keyboard or voice commands, not just using a mouse.
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Understandable
Information and user interface operation must be understandable. For example, information and instructions should be clear and navigation methods should be easy to understand and use.
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Robust
Content must be robust enough that it can interpreted reliably by a wide variety of users and assistive technologies. As technologies evolve, code and content should remain accessible for users of common and current assistive devices and tools.
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WCAG conformance levels
There are three levels of WCAG conformance: A, AA, and AAA. Each level builds on the previous level like a pyramid. So, in order to meet Level AA, you must meet all of Level A, and in order to meet Level AAA, you must meet all of Level AA.
Level A
This level represents the minimum level of conformance. Level A criteria affect the broadest group of users with the most benefits and are essential. But, with the base level of support, some barriers will still exist that impact certain groups of users.
Level AA
This level is the most common target conformance level, often adopted in regulations or negotiated in legal settlements. The criteria at this level establish a higher level of accessibility that works for more users, including those who use assistive technology.
Level AAA
This is the highest conformance level achievable, meaning it covers the success criteria of all three levels. However, Level AAA is not applicable or realistic in all situations, as all criteria may not apply to every digital experience. Most organizations will target Level AA conformance, but some may choose to additionally adopt specific criteria at the AAA level.
How high should you aim?
The W3C encourages organizations to conform with the most recent version of WCAG as a best practice. While certain laws require conformance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, the U.S. Department of Justice has referenced WCAG 2.1 Level AA (at minimum) as the benchmark in its more recent ADA enforcement actions.
Amidst this inconsistency, conformance with the latest version, WCAG 2.2, will not only provide improved accessibility for every user, it will ensure your organization is up-to-date in its compliance efforts.
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