WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
Acronyms and Abbreviations
The international standard for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.
In practice
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, from the W3C, define how to make digital content perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for people with visual, auditory, motor and cognitive disabilities. They are organised into three levels — A, AA, AAA — with AA the common legal and contractual target. Contrast ratios, keyboard access, alt text and focus order all come from here.
Questions
What is WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
WCAG is the W3C's set of technical guidelines and success criteria for accessible web content, referenced by accessibility law worldwide.
Why do you use WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
Because it is the definition of accessible that courts, procurement and regulators use, and because meeting it makes products better for everyone.
How do you use/apply WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
Target AA, learn the success criteria that touch your work — contrast, focus, labels, structure, motion — audit with tools and with real assistive tech, and fix what fails.
When do you use WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
Throughout design and development, not as a launch-week audit.
Who uses WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
Every designer and developer shipping digital products, and the accessibility specialists who support them.
