Checklist

WCAG 2.1 AA Checklist

A practical, developer-friendly checklist of WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements. Items marked with Auto can be detected by automated tools like WCAGAlert.

Images & Media

1.1.1

Non-text Content

Auto

All images have descriptive alt text. Decorative images use alt="".

1.2.1

Audio/Video (Prerecorded)

Provide text transcript or audio description for prerecorded media.

1.2.2

Captions (Prerecorded)

All prerecorded videos have synchronised captions.

1.2.3

Audio Description

Prerecorded video has audio description of visual content.

1.2.5

Audio Description (Extended)

Extended audio descriptions for complex visual content in video.

Colour & Contrast

1.4.1

Use of Colour

Colour is not the only way to convey information (e.g., error states also use icons/text).

1.4.3

Contrast (Minimum)

Auto

Text has at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio. Large text (18px+) needs 3:1.

1.4.4

Resize Text

Text can be resized to 200% without loss of content or functionality.

1.4.11

Non-text Contrast

Auto

UI components and graphics have at least 3:1 contrast ratio.

Keyboard & Navigation

2.1.1

Keyboard

All functionality is operable via keyboard alone (no mouse required).

2.1.2

No Keyboard Trap

Users can navigate away from any component using keyboard.

2.4.1

Bypass Blocks

Auto

Provide a "skip to main content" link.

2.4.3

Focus Order

Focus moves in a logical, meaningful sequence.

2.4.7

Focus Visible

Keyboard focus indicator is visible on all interactive elements.

Forms & Inputs

1.3.1

Info and Relationships

Auto

Form fields use proper <label> elements. Headings use semantic HTML (h1-h6).

3.3.1

Error Identification

Form errors are clearly identified and described in text.

3.3.2

Labels or Instructions

Auto

All form inputs have visible labels (not just placeholders).

4.1.2

Name, Role, Value

Auto

Custom UI components have proper ARIA roles, names, and states.

Page Structure

1.3.2

Meaningful Sequence

Reading order in the DOM matches visual presentation.

2.4.2

Page Titled

Auto

Every page has a descriptive, unique <title>.

2.4.6

Headings and Labels

Headings and labels are descriptive of topic or purpose.

3.1.1

Language of Page

Auto

The lang attribute is set on the <html> element.

3.1.2

Language of Parts

Content in a different language is marked with lang attribute.

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