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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.

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Theme

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  • Sensory

Principles

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  • Perceivable

20 success criteria found for Level A, AA, AAA and Sensory theme and Perceivable principle and

Success criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content

Level Level A, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: CODE AND LABELS SENSORY WORDING

All images and other non-text content (like icons, charts, audio, CAPTCHAs, or controls) must have a descriptive text alternative that conveys their meaning. Purely decorative content can be hidden from assistive technologies (e.g. using an empty alt attribute).

Success criterion 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)

Level Level A, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Prerecorded videos with audio must have synchronised captions that include:

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

Success criterion 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics

Level Level A, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: FORMS SENSORY WORDING

Instructions and descriptions must not rely on sensory features alone, like color, shape, size, visual location, or sound.

Always provide additional text to clarify meaning.

Success criterion 1.4.1 Use of Color

Level Level A, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY

Colour must not be the only way to convey information.

Always provide an additional visual cue, like icon, text label, underline, shape, or pattern (e.g. striped, solid).

Success criterion 1.4.2 Audio Control

Level Level A, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY

If audio plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, it must be possible to:

  • pause the audio,
  • stop the audio, or
  • adjust the volume,

without using system-wide controls.

Success criterion 1.2.4 Captions (Live)

Level Level AA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Live video with audio must include real-time captions that cover:

  • speech and
  • important sound effects (like music, alarms, or laughter)

Success criterion 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Level Level AA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY WORDING

Important visual content in prerecorded videos with audio must be described using:

  • an audio description,
  • unless it is already explained in the main audio track

Success criterion 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast [2.1 and 2.2]

Level Level AA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY

Interactive controls (e.g. buttons, form fields, focus indicators) and graphics that convey meaning (e.g. icons, charts, graph lines) must have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colours.

Success criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

Level Level AA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY ZOOM AND LEGIBILITY

Text contrast against its background must be at least:

  • 4.5:1 for normal text, or
  • 3:1 for large text (over 24px, or bold and over 19px).

Success criterion 1.4.5 Images of Text

Level Level AA, WCAG principle: Perceivable

Assigned to the following themes: SENSORY ZOOM AND LEGIBILITY

Text must be actual text, not images of text, unless a specific visual presentation is absolutely necessary (e.g. logo).

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 1.4.6 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).