If you’re new to the world of web accessibility, you’ve probably heard the term WCAG thrown around. But what exactly is it? WCAG, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is an internationally recognized set of recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. It’s a foundational framework that helps developers and designers build digital experiences that are inclusive by design.
The guidelines are organized around four core principles, often remembered by the acronym POUR:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means things like providing text alternatives for images and captions for audio content.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. This includes ensuring your site can be navigated using only a keyboard and giving users enough time to read and use the content.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. Think about making text readable and predictable, and making sure the site’s navigation is consistent.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. This means using clean, semantic code that assistive technologies can understand.
Following WCAG isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a better, more equitable web for everyone.