Key WCAG Success Criteria

Understanding and applying the right accessibility standards is essential for building inclusive websites. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define a set of success criteria that help you ensure digital content is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Some of the most important WCAG success criteria include providing text alternatives for non-text content, ensuring sufficient contrast between text and background, and supporting clear, consistent navigation throughout your site.

Text alternatives are required for images, icons, and other visual elements so users who rely on screen readers can understand your content. Sufficient color contrast ensures that users with low vision or color blindness can read text and interpret visuals. Consistent navigation helps all users, including those with cognitive disabilities, find information efficiently and predictably.

To help you recognize what compliance and non-compliance might look like, review the following checklist. Each item highlights a key WCAG criterion, with visual cues to show whether a design meets or fails that requirement.