Accessibility standards give people a shared way to define and ensure the accessibility of digital resources. You don’t need to memorise WCAG to create accessible content as most requirements are already available as practical guidance for everyday tasks.


What is WCAG?

WCAG stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It is an international accessibility standard created by W3C and is widely used as the basis for accessibility policies, standards and testing. It is organised according to 3 success criteria, A, AA and AAA and digital content in the EU must adhere to criteria AA at a minimum.

Examples of these guidelines include:

  • providing alternative text for images
  • providing captions and transcripts for media
  • using clear and accurate page structures
  • ensuring sufficient colour contrast
  • ensuring content can be navigated and used with a keyboard
  • compatibility with assistive technology

The POUR principles

WCAG groups its guidance under four broad principles which can be remembered using the acronym POUR.

  • Perceivable
    • Can people perceive the information?
    • Included here is alt text for images, captions for video and sufficient colour contrast.
  • Operable
    • Can people navigate and interact with the content?
    • This includes keyboard access, visible focus and giving people enough time to complete tasks.
  • Understandable
    • Is the content and interactions clear and predictable?
    • This includes understandable instructions, consistent interfaces and useful error messages.
  • Robust
    • Will the content work reliably with different browsers, devices and assistive technologies?
    • Examples include the use of appropriate HTML and accessible controls and file formats.

Using WCAG

If you are creating digital content, documents or designs you can use the guidance for your task instead of reading through all of WCAG from start to finish. For example:

  • If you’re designing an image, learn how to write alt text and how to ensure sufficient colour contrast.
  • If you’re creating a presentation, learn how to create accessible PowerPoint presentations.
  • If you want to test one of your documents, try the five-minute accessibility check.
You can use WCAG and its supporting guidance when you need more detailed information about a particular requirement.

Sources and further guidance: W3C — WCAG 2 Overview; WCAG 2.2; W3C — Accessibility Principles