What is WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)?
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The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG for short) are an important asset for businesses, organizations, and other entities that aim to make their digital content accessible to all people. Since all sorts of products, services, and activities can now be done online, it is imperative to make web pages accessible to people with learning disabilities worldwide. Learning disabilities is just one of the categories that web developers should look out for when making digital content. Users may have conditions with their vision, color recognition, hearing, dexterity, and how they perceive information. Websites must have a good enough code so that users with disabilities can access their content with little to no difficulty.
You might be wondering - how can this be achieved? This is where WCAG or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines come in.
Just like the name itself, WCAG is a step-by-step set of technical requirements detailing how you can make your website, mobile app, or other digital property can be easily accessible by all sorts of people!
What are the WCAG requirements?
Under WCAG, you will find guidelines on creating your website to meet web accessibility standards that are universally accepted. Not only does it provide a good reference point for businesses or groups that want to create efficient websites, but it will ensure compliance with any local laws about accessibility for people with disabilities.
For example, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all places - including the world wide web - open to the general public to be accessible for people with various disabilities. Since the ADA itself does not outline criteria for web accessibility or how to make web content more accessible, most groups abide by the WCAG requirements.
WCAG covers an exhaustive, technical list of digital elements that can become barriers for users with disabilities. Their guidelines address these barriers that prevent these users from using digital platforms, whether it is a website, mobile app, or basically any digital content.
Most people might be unfamiliar with these guidelines and barriers, especially the users without disabilities. But people with disabilities will surely have an improved experience when these digital barriers are removed.
Accessibility criteria and laws vary from country to country. There are different state, federal, and local laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the United States alone. The ADA is just one of them. So how can you ensure that following WCAG allows universal web accessibility?
Is WCAG universally accepted?
One of the greatest features of WCAG is that it was developed by a working group of experts from all over the world. With that, it has been universally accepted and adopted. Most countries are at least familiar with it and are probably using it by now.
The World Wide Web Consortium - better known as W3C - leads the international community that develops WCAG. This highly skilled community comprises many staff, member organizations, and even public citizens from various countries. Their expertise is combined to create invaluable standards for the web. The web accessibility initiative helped WCAG evolve because W3C envisioned the internet to be an open system - universally available to everyone. WCAG functions with this vision that the worldwide web is an open and accessible communication platform.
But WCAG is not set in stone. Through the years, they have released updated versions and guidelines for improvement. If you own a website of any sort, you should stay informed about changes and updates to the web content accessibility guidelines.
What are the different versions of WCAG?
To ensure equal access and opportunity for users with disabilities, WCAG developers consider the different ways they could use the internet. With new technological advances, WCAG is likewise evolving to be inclusive to users with assistive technology or keyboard-only access.
Currently, three versions of WCAG exist 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1. WCAG 2.0 has replaced WCAG 1.0, so this first version is basically outdated already. (Your organization should look into this if your website were tailored to meet WCAG 1.0 standards only.)
WCAG 1.0 was released in 1999, and it took 9 years for the new and improved WCAG 2.0 to come out. Stakeholders worldwide contributed to this new version, which became the most universally accepted set of web accessibility guidelines available.
It was in June 2018 when WCAG 2.1 was released. While it did not replace WCAG 2.0, it includes valuable additional information about newer technologies and addressed a wider range of disability-related needs. Web pages that followed WCAG 2.0 are still considered accessible as they have met the WCAG 2.0 success criteria. However, WCAG 2.1 is the best reference tool at the moment if you need the most up-to-date guidance available.
Between WCAG 2.0 and 2.1, the guidelines use the same terminology. They are separated into the following parts:
#1. Design Principles
These are the four overarching design principles of accessible website development. Building web pages according to these ensures meeting WCAG standards.
- Perceivable: The information and user interface components must be presented so that users of all disabilities can perceive them as intended.
- Operable: The user interface components and navigation must be operable, even by those using keyboard-only or screen readers.
- Understandable: The information and operations should be understandable even to users with disabilities.
- Robust: Lastly, the content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, such as text-to-audio language converters, among many others.
#2. Guidelines
By the name itself, guidelines under WCAG'S four principles are short statements that guide what should be considered by designers and developers for a website to meet accessibility guidelines.
For WCAG 2.0, there are twelve guidelines under the four principles. You will find four guidelines under Perceivable, four under Operable, three under Understandable, and one under Robust.
WCAG 2.1 has one additional guideline, bringing the total to thirteen. This additional guideline is as follows:
2.5 Pointer Accessible. Make it easier for users to operate functionality through various inputs beyond the keyboard.
This is the latest guideline added to WCAG. New technology has been adapted so users can operate in digital spaces besides simply using a keyboard. Subsequently, websites must follow suit so that these users can access their content.
#3. Success Criteria
The success criteria are specific technical requirements to ensure that a website is compliant with the standard. ADA Website Compliance ensures accessibility.
Aside from these versions, WCAG has levels of conformance as well. These levels may be considered under the 'Success Criteria.'
Organizations and entities should aim for one of these levels when trying to meet content guidelines for their digital properties.
What are the WCAG levels?
WCAG guidelines are divided into three levels of conformance: namely Level A, AA, and AAA.
#1. WCAG Level A
Level A meets the bare minimum of compliance for web accessibility.
#2. WCAG Level AA
This second one meets the target compliance level that legally covers places of public accommodation under the ADA. Generally, it is good to aim for this level.
#3. WCAG Level AAA
Level AAA means you are exceeding requirements and complying with the success criteria of all three levels.
WCAG requirements to be followed will depend on which country and state or town your business or organization is based in. For example, in Australia, mainstream organizations are expected to meet Level AA conformance. This means they should aim to meet either WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance or WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
Even though guidelines are now universally available, most websites still contain barriers for people with disabilities. WCAG offers invaluable help to organizations to ensure that every element of their digital properties is accessible to people who have a wide range of disabilities - such as limited dexterity in their hands, having vision or hearing conditions, going online using assistive technology, and devices, among others. It is very important to consider these when making web content.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG for short) are an important asset for businesses, organizations, and other entities that aim to make their digital content accessible to all people. Since all sorts of products, services, and activities can now be done online, it is imperative to make web pages accessible to people with learning disabilities worldwide. Learning disabilities is just one of the categories that web developers should look out for when making digital content. Users may have conditions with their vision, color recognition, hearing, dexterity, and how they perceive information. Websites must have a good enough code so that users with disabilities can access their content with little to no difficulty.
You might be wondering - how can this be achieved? This is where WCAG or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines come in.
Just like the name itself, WCAG is a step-by-step set of technical requirements detailing how you can make your website, mobile app, or other digital property can be easily accessible by all sorts of people!
What are the WCAG requirements?
Under WCAG, you will find guidelines on creating your website to meet web accessibility standards that are universally accepted. Not only does it provide a good reference point for businesses or groups that want to create efficient websites, but it will ensure compliance with any local laws about accessibility for people with disabilities.
For example, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all places - including the world wide web - open to the general public to be accessible for people with various disabilities. Since the ADA itself does not outline criteria for web accessibility or how to make web content more accessible, most groups abide by the WCAG requirements.
WCAG covers an exhaustive, technical list of digital elements that can become barriers for users with disabilities. Their guidelines address these barriers that prevent these users from using digital platforms, whether it is a website, mobile app, or basically any digital content.
Most people might be unfamiliar with these guidelines and barriers, especially the users without disabilities. But people with disabilities will surely have an improved experience when these digital barriers are removed.
Accessibility criteria and laws vary from country to country. There are different state, federal, and local laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the United States alone. The ADA is just one of them. So how can you ensure that following WCAG allows universal web accessibility?
Is WCAG universally accepted?
One of the greatest features of WCAG is that it was developed by a working group of experts from all over the world. With that, it has been universally accepted and adopted. Most countries are at least familiar with it and are probably using it by now.
The World Wide Web Consortium - better known as W3C - leads the international community that develops WCAG. This highly skilled community comprises many staff, member organizations, and even public citizens from various countries. Their expertise is combined to create invaluable standards for the web. The web accessibility initiative helped WCAG evolve because W3C envisioned the internet to be an open system - universally available to everyone. WCAG functions with this vision that the worldwide web is an open and accessible communication platform.
But WCAG is not set in stone. Through the years, they have released updated versions and guidelines for improvement. If you own a website of any sort, you should stay informed about changes and updates to the web content accessibility guidelines.
What are the different versions of WCAG?
To ensure equal access and opportunity for users with disabilities, WCAG developers consider the different ways they could use the internet. With new technological advances, WCAG is likewise evolving to be inclusive to users with assistive technology or keyboard-only access.
Currently, three versions of WCAG exist 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1. WCAG 2.0 has replaced WCAG 1.0, so this first version is basically outdated already. (Your organization should look into this if your website were tailored to meet WCAG 1.0 standards only.)
WCAG 1.0 was released in 1999, and it took 9 years for the new and improved WCAG 2.0 to come out. Stakeholders worldwide contributed to this new version, which became the most universally accepted set of web accessibility guidelines available.
It was in June 2018 when WCAG 2.1 was released. While it did not replace WCAG 2.0, it includes valuable additional information about newer technologies and addressed a wider range of disability-related needs. Web pages that followed WCAG 2.0 are still considered accessible as they have met the WCAG 2.0 success criteria. However, WCAG 2.1 is the best reference tool at the moment if you need the most up-to-date guidance available.
Between WCAG 2.0 and 2.1, the guidelines use the same terminology. They are separated into the following parts:
#1. Design Principles
These are the four overarching design principles of accessible website development. Building web pages according to these ensures meeting WCAG standards.
- Perceivable: The information and user interface components must be presented so that users of all disabilities can perceive them as intended.
- Operable: The user interface components and navigation must be operable, even by those using keyboard-only or screen readers.
- Understandable: The information and operations should be understandable even to users with disabilities.
- Robust: Lastly, the content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, such as text-to-audio language converters, among many others.
#2. Guidelines
By the name itself, guidelines under WCAG'S four principles are short statements that guide what should be considered by designers and developers for a website to meet accessibility guidelines.
For WCAG 2.0, there are twelve guidelines under the four principles. You will find four guidelines under Perceivable, four under Operable, three under Understandable, and one under Robust.
WCAG 2.1 has one additional guideline, bringing the total to thirteen. This additional guideline is as follows:
2.5 Pointer Accessible. Make it easier for users to operate functionality through various inputs beyond the keyboard.
This is the latest guideline added to WCAG. New technology has been adapted so users can operate in digital spaces besides simply using a keyboard. Subsequently, websites must follow suit so that these users can access their content.
#3. Success Criteria
The success criteria are specific technical requirements to ensure that a website is compliant with the standard. ADA Website Compliance ensures accessibility.
Aside from these versions, WCAG has levels of conformance as well. These levels may be considered under the 'Success Criteria.'
Organizations and entities should aim for one of these levels when trying to meet content guidelines for their digital properties.
What are the WCAG levels?
WCAG guidelines are divided into three levels of conformance: namely Level A, AA, and AAA.
#1. WCAG Level A
Level A meets the bare minimum of compliance for web accessibility.
#2. WCAG Level AA
This second one meets the target compliance level that legally covers places of public accommodation under the ADA. Generally, it is good to aim for this level.
#3. WCAG Level AAA
Level AAA means you are exceeding requirements and complying with the success criteria of all three levels.
WCAG requirements to be followed will depend on which country and state or town your business or organization is based in. For example, in Australia, mainstream organizations are expected to meet Level AA conformance. This means they should aim to meet either WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance or WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
Even though guidelines are now universally available, most websites still contain barriers for people with disabilities. WCAG offers invaluable help to organizations to ensure that every element of their digital properties is accessible to people who have a wide range of disabilities - such as limited dexterity in their hands, having vision or hearing conditions, going online using assistive technology, and devices, among others. It is very important to consider these when making web content.
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