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A Comprehensive Guide to WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria

accessibility

An in-depth look at the latest WCAG 2.2 success criteria and how to implement them in modern web applications.

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A Comprehensive Guide to WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria

Introduction

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, published in October 2023, introduces several new success criteria that build upon the foundation of WCAG 2.1. This guide will walk you through the key changes and provide practical implementation strategies.

New in WCAG 2.2

1. Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (Level AA)

Ensuring that focused elements are not completely hidden by other content when they receive focus.

2. Dragging Movements (Level AA)

Providing single-pointer alternatives for dragging functionality to assist users who cannot perform drag-and-drop operations.

3. Focus Appearance (Minimum) (Level AA)

Requiring a more visible focus indicator that meets specific contrast requirements.

Implementation Strategies

Semantic HTML

<!-- Good -->
<button class="btn">Submit</button>

<!-- Better with ARIA -->
<button class="btn" aria-label="Submit form">
  <span class="visually-hidden">Submit</span>
  <span aria-hidden="true">→</span>
</button>

Focus Management

// Set focus to the first interactive element in a modal
document.querySelector('.modal [tabindex="0"]')?.focus();

Testing Your Implementation

  1. Keyboard Navigation - Ensure all interactive elements are reachable and usable via keyboard.
  2. Screen Reader Testing - Verify that content is announced correctly by screen readers.
  3. Color Contrast - Use tools like WebAIM's Contrast Checker to verify text contrast ratios.

Conclusion

Adopting WCAG 2.2 not only improves accessibility but also enhances the overall user experience. By implementing these guidelines, you make your content available to a wider audience, including people with disabilities.

Resources