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WCAG Accessibility Standards

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. CodeFrog helps you test and achieve WCAG compliance at all three conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA.

What is WCAG?

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a set of guidelines published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides a framework for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines are organized into three levels of conformance: A (minimum), AA (standard), and AAA (enhanced).

WCAG compliance is not just about legal requirements—it's about creating inclusive digital experiences that work for everyone, including users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.

WCAG Conformance Levels

Level A

Minimum Level

Level A represents the minimum level of accessibility. Meeting Level A means your website is accessible to some users with disabilities, but may still have significant barriers for others.

Examples of Level A requirements:

  • All images must have alternative text (alt attributes)
  • All form inputs must have labels
  • Content must be structured with proper headings
  • Color cannot be the only means of conveying information
  • All functionality must be keyboard accessible

Level A is the foundation of accessibility, but it's often not sufficient for legal compliance in many jurisdictions.

Level AA

Standard Level (Recommended)

Level AA is the most commonly targeted conformance level and is often required by law in many countries, including the United States (ADA), European Union (EN 301 549), and others.

Examples of Level AA requirements:

  • Text contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text (3:1 for large text)
  • All functionality must be accessible via keyboard
  • Focus indicators must be visible
  • Headings and labels must be descriptive
  • Error messages must be clear and helpful
  • Content must be readable and understandable

Legal Compliance: Level AA is typically the target for legal compliance. Many organizations, including government agencies and businesses, are required to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Level AAA

Enhanced Level

Level AAA represents the highest level of accessibility conformance. While it's the gold standard, achieving full AAA compliance can be challenging and may not be practical for all content types.

Examples of Level AAA requirements:

  • Text contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text (4.5:1 for large text)
  • Sign language interpretation for audio content
  • Extended audio descriptions for video content
  • No timing constraints (except for real-time events)
  • Context-sensitive help available

Important Note: While CodeFrog can test for AAA compliance using automated tools, full AAA conformance requires manual testing with assistive technologies (screen readers, voice control, etc.). Automated tools can only catch a portion of AAA requirements.

How CodeFrog Tests for WCAG Compliance

CodeFrog uses axe-core, the industry-leading automated accessibility testing engine, to test your websites and applications for WCAG compliance. Our testing covers all three WCAG levels: A, AA, and AAA.

What Gets Tested

When you run an accessibility scan in CodeFrog, we test for violations across all WCAG levels:

  • WCAG 2.0 Level A: Basic accessibility requirements
  • WCAG 2.0 Level AA: Standard accessibility requirements
  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Updated standards including mobile accessibility
  • WCAG 2.1 Level AAA: Enhanced accessibility requirements

Testing Capabilities

CodeFrog's accessibility testing checks for:

  • Color Contrast: Verifies text meets WCAG AA (4.5:1) and AAA (7:1) contrast requirements
  • Keyboard Navigation: Ensures all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
  • ARIA Attributes: Validates proper use of ARIA roles, labels, and states
  • Semantic HTML: Checks for proper heading hierarchy and landmark regions
  • Image Alt Text: Verifies all images have descriptive alternative text
  • Form Labels: Ensures all form inputs have associated labels
  • Focus Management: Checks for visible focus indicators and proper focus order
  • Screen Reader Compatibility: Tests for issues that would affect screen reader users

Understanding Your Results

After running an accessibility scan, CodeFrog provides:

  • WCAG Rating: Shows which level you pass (A, AA, or AAA)
  • Health Score: Overall A-F grade based on findings severity
  • Detailed Findings: Specific violations with WCAG level tags, descriptions, and remediation guidance
  • Export Options: Export results in Markdown, JSON, or CSV formats

The WCAG rating indicates the highest level your page passes. For example, if you have no Level A or AA violations but some AAA violations, your rating would be "AA".

Getting Started with WCAG Testing

To test your website for WCAG compliance in CodeFrog:

  1. Open CodeFrog and navigate to the Web Testing feature
  2. Select the Accessibility tab
  3. Enter a URL or select a local HTML file to test
  4. Click Run Scan to start the accessibility analysis
  5. Review your WCAG rating and detailed findings

You can also run comprehensive accessibility testing as part of the Mega Report, which combines accessibility, security, SEO, and code analysis in a single unified report.

Learn more about CodeFrog's accessibility testing features →

Best Practices

  • Target Level AA: For most projects, Level AA is the recommended target as it meets legal requirements and provides good accessibility
  • Test Early and Often: Run accessibility scans during development, not just before launch
  • Combine Automated and Manual Testing: While CodeFrog catches many issues automatically, manual testing with assistive technologies is essential for full compliance
  • Fix Critical Issues First: Address Level A and AA violations before focusing on AAA
  • Test with Real Users: When possible, involve users with disabilities in your testing process

Learn More