What WCAG means
WCAG is published by the W3C and organized into levels A, AA and AAA. Level AA is the common target for business websites and is referenced by many laws and policies. Meeting it requires both automated checks and manual testing.
Why it matters for your website
Following WCAG makes your site usable by people with disabilities, which widens your audience and improves the experience for everyone. It is also the standard most often used to judge accessibility in legal complaints and contracts.
Example
A hypothetical restaurant adds text alternatives to its menu images and fixes low-contrast buttons so screen reader users and people with low vision can order online.
Tips
- Aim for Level AA, the target most organizations and policies use.
- Test key pages with a keyboard only and with a screen reader.
- Use automated checkers, then follow up with manual review.
Common mistakes
- Relying on an overlay widget to fix accessibility problems.
- Posting menus or forms as images with no text version.
Questions about WCAG
What is WCAG?
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: the international standard for making web content accessible.
What are the WCAG conformance levels?
There are three: A, AA and AAA. Level A covers the most basic needs, AA is the common target, and AAA is the strictest.
Is WCAG compliance required by law?
It depends on where you operate and what kind of organization you are. Many laws and court cases point to WCAG as the measure, so check with a legal advisor for your situation.
