WCAG 2.1 Level A
Level A is the minimum conformance level. These are the most critical requirements — failing them creates barriers that make content completely inaccessible to some users.
Perceivable
| Criterion | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 | Non-text Content | All non-text content has a text alternative |
| 1.2.1 | Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | Prerecorded audio/video has an alternative |
| 1.2.2 | Captions (Prerecorded) | Captions provided for prerecorded audio in video |
| 1.2.3 | Audio Description or Media Alternative | Audio description or text alternative for prerecorded video |
| 1.3.1 | Info and Relationships | Structure and relationships conveyed through presentation are programmatically determinable |
| 1.3.2 | Meaningful Sequence | Correct reading sequence is programmatically determinable |
| 1.3.3 | Sensory Characteristics | Instructions don’t rely solely on sensory characteristics |
| 1.4.1 | Use of Color | Color not used as the only visual means of conveying information |
| 1.4.2 | Audio Control | Mechanism to pause/stop/control audio that auto-plays |
Operable
| Criterion | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1.1 | Keyboard | All functionality available from keyboard |
| 2.1.2 | No Keyboard Trap | Keyboard focus can be moved away from any component |
| 2.1.4 | Character Key Shortcuts | Single-character keyboard shortcuts can be turned off or remapped |
| 2.2.1 | Timing Adjustable | Time limits can be turned off, adjusted, or extended |
| 2.2.2 | Pause, Stop, Hide | Moving/blinking/scrolling content can be paused |
| 2.3.1 | Three Flashes or Below Threshold | No content flashes more than 3 times per second |
| 2.4.1 | Bypass Blocks | Mechanism to skip repeated blocks of content |
| 2.4.2 | Page Titled | Pages have descriptive titles |
| 2.4.3 | Focus Order | Focus order preserves meaning and operability |
| 2.4.4 | Link Purpose (In Context) | Purpose of each link determinable from link text or context |
| 2.5.1 | Pointer Gestures | All multi-point/path-based gestures have single-pointer alternatives |
| 2.5.2 | Pointer Cancellation | Single-pointer actions can be cancelled or undone |
| 2.5.3 | Label in Name | Visible label text is part of the accessible name |
| 2.5.4 | Motion Actuation | Functionality triggered by motion has UI alternatives |
Understandable
| Criterion | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1.1 | Language of Page | Default language of page is programmatically determinable |
| 3.2.1 | On Focus | Receiving focus doesn’t trigger unexpected context change |
| 3.2.2 | On Input | Changing input setting doesn’t trigger unexpected context change |
| 3.3.1 | Error Identification | Input errors identified and described in text |
| 3.3.2 | Labels or Instructions | Labels or instructions provided for user input |
Robust
| Criterion | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1 | Parsing | Markup can be reliably parsed (no duplicate IDs, complete tags) |
| 4.1.2 | Name, Role, Value | UI components have accessible name, role, and value |
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