What is WCAG?
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, is an internationally recognized accessibility standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
WCAG provides a framework of criteria for all public and private organizations, ensuring equal access to digital content, websites, and applications. These guidelines are used by government agencies and advocacy groups around the world to establish online-accessibility laws and regulations.
How does WCAG measure accessibility?
The most current WCAG (version 2.2) covers accessibility requirements based on four principles, forming the acronym POUR.
These principles are:
WCAG rates compliance by three levels:
Why compliance matters:
WCAG objectives encompass all website owners, developers, and designers. They ensure compliance with accessibility laws in all countries as well as improve a website’s online performance and brand reputation.
Non-compliance with accessibility regulations can lead to legal consequences, such as fines and lawsuits, as well as damage to a brand’s reputation.