The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the global standard for web accessibility. They provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Core Components of WCAG:
- Guidelines: There are 13 main guidelines that provide the basic goals for developers to work toward. These guidelines are organized under the four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).
- Success Criteria: For each guideline, there are testable success criteria. These are the specific requirements you must meet to conform to the standard.
- Conformance Levels: To allow for flexibility, WCAG defines three levels of conformance:
- Level A (Minimum): The most basic level of accessibility. If a site doesn’t meet this level, it may be impossible for certain groups to access or use it.
- Level AA (Mid-range): This level is the most common target for websites and is often cited in legal standards globally. It addresses more significant barriers to access.
- Level AAA (Highest): The most comprehensive level of accessibility. It is not always possible to satisfy all Level AAA criteria for all content.
WCAG is not a static document; it is regularly updated to keep pace with changing technologies. Following these guidelines is the most reliable way to ensure your website is accessible and legally compliant.
