The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards and guidelines created by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The objective of WCAG is to provide a set of recommendations that will make web content accessible for all, and especially for people with disabilities.
“Web content” refers to all the information in a web page or web application, including text, sounds, images, and code that defines presentation and structure.
The Basic Principles of WCAG 2.0
Developed in collaboration with organizations and individuals across the world, WCAG 2.0 consists of twelve guidelines that are based on the four essential principles that websites must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust:
WCAG Principle 1: Perceivable
The information on a web page and its user interface components must be presented to users in a way that they can perceive through their senses of sight, sound, and touch.
The guidelines included as part of this principle encompass the following:
- The web page must have text alternatives for non-text content to be converted into other forms, such as audio, symbols, easier language, large print, or braille.
- Alternatives to time-based media, such as audio, video, a combination of audio/video, and interactive audio, must exist.
- All information must be available to be presented to users in different ways, such as visuals, audio, tactile, etc. Assistive technology must be able to determine the structure and information so it can be rendered in other formats, such as a simpler layout.
- Website visitors with visual or hearing disabilities often find separating foreground and background information difficult. Websites must provide sufficient contrast between foreground text and the background, clearly distinguish between foreground sounds and background sounds, and display text in sufficient size for website visitors to read against a background.
WCAG Principle 2: Operable
The ‘operable’ principle of WCAG 2.0 specifies that the user interface components and navigation must be operable for all users. The following guidelines form a part of this principle:
- People with motor disabilities, muscular weakness, injuries, and so on often find it difficult to interact with many websites using a mouse. They find that using a keyboard is much easier. This guideline specifies that all functionality must be accessible through a keyboard.
- Many users take longer to read things on the screen or physically respond to interactivities due to specific disabilities. They may have impaired vision or motor disabilities or might be using assistive technologies, which could increase their response time. This guideline specifies that users should have enough time to read and use content.
- Users with photosensitive epilepsy react negatively to flashing visual content, which often triggers epileptic attacks. This guideline specifies that content should be designed so that it does not cause such seizures.
- People with disabilities often find it difficult to find content, determine where exactly they are, and navigate through content. The website should be designed so that users can easily determine their current location and reach the content they would like to engage with.
WCAG Principle 3: Understandable
Website content must be easy for everyone to understand, irrespective of their disabilities. The ‘understandable’ principles have the following key guidelines:
- Some users understand text directly through the visual medium, while others listen to text. Some users also prefer graphical representations of text. This guideline specifies that all text must be understandable by users.
- Many users prefer predictable patterns in how information is presented across web pages. When functional and interactive components appear in the same location across a website, it becomes easier for visitors with disabilities to find them and spend less time decoding them.
- When people interact with web pages, there are situations when they enter incorrect data or perform some other such actions that can be remedied. However, people with disabilities often find it more difficult to correct their mistakes or even realize that they are on the wrong path. An accessible web page will reduce the probability of such errors and make it clear to the user how to set things right.
WCAG Principle 4: Robust
When people with disabilities use assistive technologies, they often encounter blocks that prevent them from comfortably engaging with the site’s content. The ‘robust’ WCAG 2.0 principle specifies that the website content must be robust, thereby making it easy to interpret by a wide range of assistive technologies.
Success Criteria
Each of the guidelines listed in WCAG 2.0 has a specific set of success criteria. These criteria help website developers and accessibility experts determine whether a website and its pages adhere to the guidelines specified in WCAG 2.0.
Legal Requirements
Businesses with a presence on the Internet should make their websites accessible to people with disabilities. Not only is it ethical, it also makes commercial sense to open up website content to a larger audience. In some countries, it also makes legal sense to make websites accessible. By adhering to globally accepted standards in the space of accessibility, organizations become more inclusive, protect themselves from lawsuits, and create opportunities for more website visitors to have comfortable browsing experiences.
Learn More
To learn more about WCAG 2.0, click here -> WCAG 2.0
