Digital accessibility is not only a matter of leveling the playing field but also a strategic element in building business success. Websites that are accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or limitations, gain a market advantage and build customer loyalty. One of the key standards that help achieve this goal is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG 2.1. In this article, we will take a closer look at what these standards are and how they can be implemented in practice, using an online store as an example.
What are the WCAG standards?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Their goal is to increase the accessibility of web content for people with various types of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, as well as for older people or those using mobile devices. Implementing WCAG improves the usability of websites for all users, regardless of their limitations.
Structure of WCAG 2.1
WCAG standards are based on four accessibility principles, known as POUR:
- Perceivable: Content must be presented in a way that users can notice (e.g., alternative text for images).
- Operable: All interface elements must be operable by various devices (e.g., keyboard).
- Understandable: Content and functions must be easy to comprehend.
- Robust: The website must be compatible with various assistive technologies.
Each principle is elaborated in a set of guidelines that contain measurable success criteria divided into three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA. Level AA is the most frequently recommended because it provides a balance between accessibility and technical feasibility.
AA Conformance Level
The AA level requires meeting all success criteria from Level A, plus additional criteria from Level AA. This includes, among other things, ensuring appropriate color contrast, keyboard operability, and adapting content to various devices and screen orientations. The WCAG 2.1 standard is backward compatible with version 2.0, which facilitates the migration and updating of existing websites.
Supplementary Documents
WCAG 2.1 also includes techniques and implementation examples that help website creators practically apply the guidelines. The authorized document of the W3C WCAG 2.1 document can be found at this link.
