Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Also known as: WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a document of guidelines established by the W3C for accessible content on the Web.
Following this set of guidelines promotes accessibility, or accessibility of Web pages for people with disabilities. Examples of such disabilities include blindness and low vision, motor limitations, deafness and hearing impairment, learning disabilities and cognitive limitations.
Recommendations for accessible content
The WCAG includes requirements to make content as accessible as possible to audiences with various disabilities. Recommendations include, for example, use of color, understandable text, accessible source code and provision of alternative content for images, audio and video.
Designing and building Web pages and writing content using the WCAG also helps make content more accessible to Web browsers and devices with different functionalities including smartphones and tablets. Another side effect is optimization for search engines.
The guidelines address the principles of observability, operability, understandability and robustness of Web sites, Web applications, content and individual components thereof. Each of these guidelines contains success criteria which in turn are divided into three levels (A, AA and AAA) within which the criteria can be met.
Promoting accessibility
In many countries, the application of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or derived guidelines is laid down in regulations with which at least government agencies must comply. In the Netherlands, since December 2018, (semi)government institutions must comply with WCAG 2.1 levels A and AA.
In the Netherlands, the Accessibility Foundation is concerned with promoting digital accessibility. When providing information, advice and awarding the Waarmerk Drempelvrij.nl mark, the foundation bases itself partly on the WCAG.
