WCAG 2.1 AA Checklist 2025

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA is the global standard for web accessibility. This comprehensive checklist covers all 50 success criteria required for Level AA conformance, used by ADA, EAA, Section 508, and accessibility laws worldwide.

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1. Perceivable

Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.

1.1 Text Alternatives

1.1.1

Non-text Content (A)

All images, icons, and graphics have appropriate alt text

1.2 Time-based Media

1.2.1

Audio-only and Video-only (A)

Pre-recorded audio has transcripts; video has audio description or transcript

1.2.2

Captions (A)

Pre-recorded video with audio has captions

1.2.3

Audio Description (A)

Video has audio description or text alternative

1.2.4

Captions (Live) (AA)

Live video with audio has real-time captions

1.2.5

Audio Description (AA)

Pre-recorded video has audio description

1.3 Adaptable

1.3.1

Info and Relationships (A)

Structure and relationships conveyed through presentation are programmatically determinable

1.3.2

Meaningful Sequence (A)

Reading order is logical and intuitive

1.3.3

Sensory Characteristics (A)

Instructions don't rely solely on shape, size, location, or sound

1.3.4

Orientation (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Content works in both portrait and landscape orientations

1.3.5

Identify Input Purpose (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Form fields have autocomplete attributes for common data types

1.4 Distinguishable

1.4.1

Use of Color (A)

Color is not the only means of conveying information

1.4.2

Audio Control (A)

Auto-playing audio can be paused, stopped, or muted

1.4.3

Contrast (Minimum) (AA)

Text has contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (3:1 for large text)

1.4.4

Resize Text (AA)

Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content

1.4.5

Images of Text (AA)

Text is used instead of images of text (with exceptions)

1.4.10

Reflow (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Content reflows at 320px width without horizontal scrolling

1.4.11

Non-text Contrast (AA) - WCAG 2.1

UI components and graphics have 3:1 contrast ratio

1.4.12

Text Spacing (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Content adapts to user-set text spacing adjustments

1.4.13

Content on Hover or Focus (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Hover/focus content is dismissible, hoverable, and persistent

2. Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable.

2.1 Keyboard Accessible

2.1.1

Keyboard (A)

All functionality is accessible via keyboard

2.1.2

No Keyboard Trap (A)

Keyboard focus can be moved away from any component

2.1.4

Character Key Shortcuts (A) - WCAG 2.1

Single-character shortcuts can be turned off or remapped

2.2 Enough Time

2.2.1

Timing Adjustable (A)

Time limits can be extended or disabled

2.2.2

Pause, Stop, Hide (A)

Moving, blinking, or auto-updating content can be controlled

2.3 Seizures and Physical Reactions

2.3.1

Three Flashes or Below Threshold (A)

No content flashes more than 3 times per second

2.4 Navigable

2.4.1

Bypass Blocks (A)

Skip navigation links are available

2.4.2

Page Titled (A)

Pages have descriptive, unique titles

2.4.3

Focus Order (A)

Focus order is logical and intuitive

2.4.4

Link Purpose (In Context) (A)

Link purpose is clear from link text or context

2.4.5

Multiple Ways (AA)

More than one way to find pages (nav, search, sitemap)

2.4.6

Headings and Labels (AA)

Headings and labels are descriptive

2.4.7

Focus Visible (AA)

Keyboard focus indicator is visible

2.5 Input Modalities - WCAG 2.1

2.5.1

Pointer Gestures (A)

Multi-point gestures have single-pointer alternatives

2.5.2

Pointer Cancellation (A)

Actions triggered by down-event can be aborted or undone

2.5.3

Label in Name (A)

Visible labels are included in accessible names

2.5.4

Motion Actuation (A)

Motion-triggered functions have UI alternatives

3. Understandable

Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.

3.1 Readable

3.1.1

Language of Page (A)

Page language is identified in HTML lang attribute

3.1.2

Language of Parts (AA)

Language changes within content are identified

3.2 Predictable

3.2.1

On Focus (A)

Focus doesn't trigger unexpected context changes

3.2.2

On Input (A)

Input doesn't trigger unexpected context changes

3.2.3

Consistent Navigation (AA)

Navigation is consistent across pages

3.2.4

Consistent Identification (AA)

Components with same function are identified consistently

3.3 Input Assistance

3.3.1

Error Identification (A)

Input errors are identified and described in text

3.3.2

Labels or Instructions (A)

Forms have labels and instructions when needed

3.3.3

Error Suggestion (AA)

Error messages suggest how to fix the problem

3.3.4

Error Prevention (AA)

Legal/financial submissions are reversible, verified, or confirmed

4. Robust

Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

4.1 Compatible

4.1.1

Parsing (A) - Obsolete in 2.2

HTML is well-formed (no duplicate IDs, proper nesting)

4.1.2

Name, Role, Value (A)

All UI components have accessible names, roles, and states

4.1.3

Status Messages (AA) - WCAG 2.1

Status messages are announced to screen readers without focus

WCAG 2.1 vs 2.0 - New Criteria

WCAG 2.1 added 17 new success criteria to address mobile accessibility, cognitive disabilities, and low vision. Here are the Level AA additions:

1.3.4 Orientation
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose
1.4.10 Reflow
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
1.4.12 Text Spacing
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus
4.1.3 Status Messages

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