level: AA
Level AA is the standard level most websites aim to meet. Most countries, states, and municipalities base their accessibility laws on WCAG AA. When people say “accessible website,” they typically mean WCAG AA compliance. Successfully implement every success criterion under Level AA and A to achieve this standard.
1.2.4 Captions (Live)
Live video with audio must include real-time captions that cover; speech and; important sound effects (like music, alarms, or laughter).
1.2.5 Audio Description (Pre-recorded)
Important visual content in prerecorded videos with audio must be described using; an audio description, unless it is already explained in the main audio track.
1.3.4 Orientation
Content must remain readable and usable in both portrait and landscape orientation, unless a specific one is essential (e.g. in a piano app that requires landscape to show the full keyboard).
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose
The purpose of common form fields (like name, email, or address) must be defined in the code so that browsers and assistive technologies can offer input support, such as autocomplete.
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
Text contrast against its background must be at least 4.5:1 for normal text, or 3:1 for large text (over 24px, or bold and over 19px).
1.4.4 Resize Text
Text remains readable and usable when zoomed to 200%.
1.4.5 Images of Text
Text must be actual text, not images of text, unless a specific visual presentation is absolutely necessary (e.g. logo).
1.4.10 Reflow
Content remains functional and easy to read when; zoomed to 400% or; viewed at 320px width, without needing to scroll in two directions (except for tables, maps, and similar content).
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
Interactive controls (e.g. buttons, form fields, focus indicators) and graphics that convey meaning (e.g. icons, charts, graph lines) must have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors.
1.4.12 Text Spacing
Text remains readable and usable when spacing is changed using custom styles to at least 1.5× line height, 2× spacing after paragraphs, 0.12× letter spacing, 0.16× word spacing, without content being hidden, cut off, or broken.
