WCAG in Plain English

Visual information and relationships (like labels, headings, or groupings) must also be conveyed in the code using semantic HTML (e.g. <label for="">, <ul>, <h1>) or ARIA attributes (e.g. <aria-describedby>, <role="group">) so that assistive technologies can understand the structure.

Instructions and descriptions must not rely on sensory features alone, like color, shape, size, visual location, or sound. Always provide additional text to clarify meaning.

Color must not be the only way to convey information. Always provide an additional visual cue, like icon, text label, underline, shape, or pattern (e.g. striped, solid).

Text must be actual text, not images of text, unless a specific visual presentation is absolutely necessary (e.g. logo).

For prerecorded audio with speech, any background sound must be at least 20dB lower than the speech, or there must be a way to turn it off.

Text must be actual text, not images of text (no exception, not even for design or aesthetic reasons).

All functionality must be operable using a keyboard alone (no exception, not even for tasks involving gestures like drag-and-drop or pointer-based interaction).

If content moves, scrolls, blinks, or updates automatically for more than 5 seconds, it must be possible to pause it, stop it, or hide it.

Content must not flash, blink, or flicker more than three times per second, unless it stays within safety limits designed to avoid visual overload and reduce the risk of seizures.

Content must not flash, blink, or flicker more than three times per second (no exception, not even if it meets safety thresholds).