Skip to main content
Skip to results

WCAG Explorer (beta)

This resource is designed for anyone eager to master digital accessibility. Explore WCAG success criteria through clear, easy-to-understand descriptions. We owe a special "hat tip" to Johannes Lehner’s WCAG Card Deck, which served as the inspiration for this project.

We plan to expand this library over time, so please check back regularly for updates.

9 success criteria found for Level AAA and Perceivable principle and

Success criterion 1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Prerecorded videos must include extended audio descriptions if important visual content like:

  • important visual details,
  • on-screen text not spoken aloud, or
  • scenes without natural audio breaks

can't be described during normal playback.

Success criterion 1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Prerecorded videos must have a full text alternative that includes:

  • all speech,
  • relevant sound effects (like music, alarms, or laughter), and
  • important visual content,

even if captions and audio descriptions are already available.

Success criterion 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Live audio-only content must include a real-time text alternative, such as:

  • captions, or
  • live transcripts

Success criterion 1.3.6 Identify Purpose [2.1 and 2.2]

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: FORMS

The purpose of regions and common elements must be defined in the code using semantic HTML or ARIA attributes, so that:

  • assistive technologies can communicate their meaning, and
  • browsers can adapt or simplify the interface (e.g. hide non-essential content).

Success criterion 1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY ZOOM AND LEGIBILITY

Text contrast against its background must be at least:

  • 7:1 for normal text, or
  • 4.5:1 for large text (over 24px, or bold and over 19px)

Success criterion 1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY

For prerecorded audio with speech, any background sound must be:

  • at least 20dB lower than the speech, or
  • there must be a way to turn it off

Success criterion 1.4.8 Visual Presentation

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY ZOOM AND LEGIBILITY

Blocks of text (like paragraphs) must:

  • have a line height of at least 1.5,
  • not be justified, and
  • stay within 80 characters (or 40 for CJK scripts)

allow users to adjust spacing and colors using custom styles.

Success criterion 1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception)

Level Level AAA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY ZOOM AND LEGIBILITY

Text must be actual text, not images of text (no exception, not even for design or aesthetic reasons).