Introduction¶
Acquia Optimize has performed a round of periodic updates to our accessibility checks to improve the overall quality of accessibility scans.
An email was sent to all users regarding this latest update. In case you did not receive the email, this is what was communicated:
Acquia is releasing a major upgrade to Optimize accessibility checks, helping you create even more inclusive websites and apps.
What’s in the update?
The WCAG has not changed but websites and programming languages have evolved in recent years. As a result, some checks that were relevant five years ago are now obsolete. New methods and features in HTML and CSS created a requirement to develop new checks to fulfill specific WCAG success criteria.
Indication¶
An orange line with the label "Accessibility checks update" on your charts and tables in the Accessibility module indicates when your domain started scanning with the updated versions of checks.
For more information, see the user guide article:
Visual indicator when you switch accessibility guidelines.
All checks are updated automatically and Acquia Optimize users do not need to do anything in order to take advantage of the changes. However, as a consequence of the update, be aware that your accessibility compliance score may change.
Changes in accessibility scores are expected, due to more accurate and comprehensive assessment of website accessibility as well as the way Acquia Optimize calculates accessibility scores.
Changelog: All of the details about what has changed¶
The following sections provide details about specific updates to the various accessibility checks that Acquia has made as part of this release. The checks are arranged in order based on Success Criterion numbers.
Removed checks¶
- Check 58 All input elements with a type attribute value of "image" have an alt attribute.
- Check 59 Alt text for all input elements with a type attribute value of "image" identifies the purpose or function of the image.
- Check 64 All area elements have an alt attribute.
- Check 65 Alt text for all area elements identifies the link destination.
- Check 42 All h1 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 43 All h2 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 44 All h3 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 45 All h4 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 46 All h5 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 47 All h6 elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 112 All data table summaries contain text.
- Check 133 All layout tables make sense when linearized.
- Check 316 The purpose of each input field collecting information about the user can be programmatically determined.
- Check 302 Visited link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour.
- Check 303 Active link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour.
- Check 304 Selected link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour.
- Check 354 Link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour.
- Check 364 Text has minimum contrast
- Check 116 b (bold) element is not used.
- Check 117 i (italic) element is not used.
- Check 176 basefont must not be used.
- Check 177 font must not be used.
- Check 351 Ensure pinch-to-zoom is enabled.
- Check 11 Alt text for all img elements contains all text in the image unless the image text is decorative or appears elsewhere in the document.
- Check 193 Alt text for all input elements with a type attribute value of "image" contains all non-decorative text in the image.
- Check 194 Alt text for all area elements contains all non-decorative text in the image area.
- Check 307 Visited link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour.
- Check 308 Active link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour.
- Check 309 Selected link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour.
- Check 356 The contrast between the colour of link text and its background is not sufficient to meet WCAG2.0 Level AAA.
- Check 365 Text has enhanced contrast
- Check 322 Keyboard shortcuts are implemented in a changeable and safe manner
- Check 28 A "skip to content" link appears on all pages with blocks of material prior to the main document.
- Check 31 All frames have a title attribute.
- Check 32 All frame titles identify the purpose or function of the frame.
- Check 84 ASCII art should have a skipover link.
- Check 262 All groups of links with a related purpose are marked.
- Check 19 Link text is meaningful when read out of context.
- Check 173 Suspicious link text.
- Check 174 Each source anchor contains text.
- Check 184 Sites must have a site map.
- Check 266 The document contains a breadcrumb trail if it is part of a collection.
- Check 261 Each section of content is marked with a header element.
- Check 311 Content can be operated using simple inputs on a wide range of pointing devices.
- Check 321 Functionality that can be operated using a single pointer, is implemented in a safe manner.
- Check 323 User interface components with labels that include text or images of text has the text that is presented visually contained in the name.
- Check 326 Functionality that can be operated by device motion or user motion can also be operated by user interface.
- Check 324 The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels.
- Check 362 Pointer-interactive elements, such as linked icons, must be easy to target (Enhanced)
- Check 325 Web content does not restrict use of input modalities available on a platform.
- Check 48 Document has required lang attribute(s).
- Check 49 Document has a valid language code.
- Check 273 Reading order direction is marked using the html element's dir attribute if the document's primary language is read right to left.
- Check 110 Words and phrases not in the document's primary language are marked.
- Check 179 Provide a reference to a glossary.
- Check 98 Abbreviations must be marked with abbr element.
- Check 99 Acronyms must be marked with acronym element.
- Check 275 Loading the web page does not cause a new window to open.
- Check 68 area should not open new window without warning.
- Check 92 All select elements do not cause an extreme change in context.
- Check 274 Change of context occurs only by user activation unless a warning is provided.
- Check 263 Repeated blocks of content appear in the same frame within the frameset.
- Check 276 Repeated components appear in the same relative order each time they appear.
- Check 81 List items must not be used to format text.
- Check 100 blockquote must not be used for indentation.
- Check 274 Change of context occurs only by user activation unless a warning is provided.
- Check 267 All form submission error messages identify any empty required fields.
- Check 96 All textarea elements have a label that is positioned close to control.
- Check 122 All input elements, type of "password", have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 123 All input elements, type of "checkbox", have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 124 All input elements, type of "file", have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 125 All input elements, type of "radio", have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 187 Each input element has only one associated label.
- Check 205 All input elements, type of "file", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 209 All select elements have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 210 All select elements have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 211 All input elements, type of "text", have a label that is positioned close to the control.
- Check 217 All input elements, type of "password", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 218 All input elements, type of "text", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 219 All input elements, type of "checkbox", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 220 All input elements, type of "radio", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control.
- Check 246 All form fields that are required are indicated to the user as required.
- Check 392 Each label associated with an input element contains text
- Check 268 All form submission error messages provide assistance in correcting the error.
- Check 269 Form submission data is presented to the user before final acceptance for all irreversible transactions.
- Check 185 id attributes must be unique.
- Check 327 Status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties.
Added checks¶
- Check 447 An image button has a name that describes its purpose.
- Check 430 Video has audio description
- Check 446 All heading elements are not used for formatting.
- Check 452 Orientation of the page is not restricted using CSS transform property
- Check 431 Ensure input fields with autocomplete attributes align with their intended purpose.
- Check 455 autocomplete attribute has valid value
- Check 438 Link text color must contrast sufficiently with its background color.
- Check 440 Text has minimum contrast
- Check 442 Text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have minimum contrast
- Check 444 Link text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have minimum contrast
- Check 478 No change of context when receiving focus
- Check 453 Meta viewport allows for zoom
- Check 439 The contrast between the color of link text and its background is not sufficient to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AAA.
- Check 441 Text has enhanced contrast
- Check 443 Text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have enhanced contrast
- Check 445 Link text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have enhanced contrast
- Check 479 Link text colour in user induced states must meet enhanced contrast or better with its background colour.
- Check 449 Low or no background audio
- Check 465 Text is Justified
- Check 460 Links with identical accessible names and same context serve equivalent purpose
- Check 476 Links with identical accessible names have equivalent purpose
- Check 470 Visible label is part of accessible name
- Check 477 Pointer-interactive elements, such as linked icons, must be easy to target(extended)
- Check 451 HTML page lang attribute has valid language tag
- Check 434 Document has required lang attribute(s)
- Check 454 Element with lang attribute has valid language tag
- Check 472 The local language attribute matches the actual language
- Check 471 Abbreviations must be described
- Check 467 An input error is described to the user in text.
- Check 473 Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input
- Check 468 All form submission error messages provide assistance in correcting the error.
- Check 469 Form submission data is presented to the user before final acceptance for all irreversible transactions.
- Check 475 Context-sensitive help is available for forms
- Check 448 Status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties.
The following sections provide details about specific updates to the various accessibility checks that Acquia has made as part of this release. The checks are arranged in order based on Success Criterion numbers.
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 58: All input elements with a type attribute value of "image" have an alt attribute
- Check 59: Alt text for all input elements with a type attribute value of "image" identifies the purpose or function of the image
- Check 64: All area elements have an alt attribute
- Check 65: Alt text for all area elements identifies the link destination
- New checks:
- Check 447: An image button has a name that describes its purpose
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA)¶
- New check:
- Check 430: Video has audio description.
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 42: All h1 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 43: All h2 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 44: All h3 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 45: All h4 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 46: All h5 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 47: All h6 elements are not used for formatting
- Check 112: All data table summaries contain text
- New check:
- Check 446: All heading elements are not used for formatting
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 133: All layout tables make sense when linearized
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 1.3.4 Orientation (Level AA)¶
- New check:
- Check 452: Orientation of the page is not restricted using CSS transform property
- Removed check:
- Check 316: The purpose of each input field collecting information about the user can be programmatically determined
- New checks:
- Check 431: Ensure input fields with autocomplete attributes align with their intended purpose.
- Check 455: Autocomplete attribute has valid value
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 302: Visited link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour
- Check 303: Active link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour
- Check 304: Selected link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour
- Check 354: Link text colour must contrast sufficiently with its background colour
- Check 364: Text has minimum contrast
- New checks:
- Check 438: Link text color must contrast sufficiently with its background color
- Check 440: Text has minimum contrast
- Check 442: Text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have minimum contrast
- Check 444: Link text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have minimum contrast
- Check 478: No change of context when receiving focus
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.4 Resize Text (Level AA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 116: b (bold) element is not used
- Check 117: i (italic) element is not used
- Check 176: basefont must not be used
- Check 177: font must not be used
- Check 351: Ensure pinch-to-zoom is enabled
- New check:
- Check 453: Meta viewport allows for zoom
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.5 Images of Text (Level AA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 11: Alt text for all img elements contains all text in the image unless the image text is decorative or appears elsewhere in the document
- Check 193: Alt text for all input elements with a type attribute value of "image" contains all non-decorative text in the image
- Check 194: Alt text for all area elements contains all non-decorative text in the image area
- New check:
- Check 466: Images of Text
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced) (Level AAA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 307: Visited link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour
- Check 308: Active link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour
- Check 309: Selected link text colour must provide high contrast with its background colour
- Check 356: The contrast between the colour of link text and its background is not sufficient to meet WCAG2.0 Level AAA
- Check 365: Text has enhanced contrast
- New checks:
- Check 439: The contrast between the color of link text and its background is not sufficient to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AAA.
- Check 441: Text has enhanced contrast
- Check 443: Text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have enhanced contrast
- Check 445: Link text on top of image, gradient or backdrop-filter, or using Text Shadows, should have enhanced contrast
- Check 479: Link text colour in user induced states must meet enhanced contrast or better with its background colour
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.7 Low or no Background Audio (Level AAA)¶
- New check:
- Check 449: Low or no background audio
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 1.4.8 Visual Presentation (Level AAA)¶
- New check:
- Check 465: Text is Justified
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 322: Keyboard shortcuts are implemented in a changeable and safe manner
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 28: A "skip to content" link appears on all pages with blocks of material prior to the main document.
- Check 31: All frames have a title attribute.
- Check 32: All frame titles identify the purpose or function of the frame.
- Check 84: ASCII art should have a skipover link.
- Check 262: All groups of links with a related purpose are marked.
New check:¶
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose in Context (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 19: Link text is meaningful when read out of context
- Check 173: Suspicious link text
- Check 174: Each source anchor contains text
- New check:
- Check 460: Links with identical accessible names and same context serve equivalent purpose
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.5 Multiple Ways (Level AA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 184: Sites must have a site map
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.8 Location (AAA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 266: The document contains a breadcrumb trail if it is part of a collection
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link only) (Level AAA)¶
- New check:
- Check 476: Links with identical accessible names have equivalent purpose
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 2.4.10 Section Headings (Level AAA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 261: Each section of content is marked with a header element
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.5.1 Pointer Gestures (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 311: Content can be operated using simple inputs on a wide range of pointing devices
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 321: Functionality that can be operated using a single pointer, is implemented in a safe manner
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.5.3 Label in Name (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 323: User interface components with labels that include text or images of text has the text that is presented visually contained in the name
- New check:
- Check 470: Visible label is part of accessible name
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.5.4 Motion Actuation (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 326: Functionality that can be operated by device motion or user motion can also be operated by user interface
WCAG 2.1 Success criteria 2.5.5 Target Size (Level AAA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 324: The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels.
- Check 362: Pointer-interactive elements, such as linked icons, must be easy to target (Enhanced)
- New check:
- Check 477: Pointer-interactive elements, such as linked icons, must be easy to target (extended)
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 2.5.6 Concurrent Mechanisms (Level AAA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 325: Web content does not restrict use of input modalities available on a platform
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 48: Document has required lang attribute(s)
- Check 49: Document has a valid language code
- Check 273: Reading order direction is marked using the html element's dir attribute if the document's primary language is read right to left
- New checks:
- Check 451: HTML page lang attribute has valid language tag
- Check 434: Document has required lang attribute(s)
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.1.2 Language of Parts (Level AA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 110: Words and phrases not in the document's primary language are marked
- New checks:
- Check 454: Element with lang attribute has valid language tag
- Check 472: The local language attribute matches the actual language
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.1.3 Unusual Words (Level AAA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 179: Provide a reference to a glossary
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.1.4 Abbreviations (Level AAA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 98: Abbreviations must be marked with abbr element
- Check 99: Acronyms must be marked with acronym element
- New check:
- Check 471: Abbreviations must be described
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.2.1 On Focus (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 275: Loading the web page does not cause a new window to open
- Removed checks:
- Check 68: Area should not open new window without warning
- Check 92: All select elements do not cause an extreme change in context
- Check 274: Change of context occurs only by user activation unless a warning is provided
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation (Level AA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 263: Repeated blocks of content appear in the same frame within the frameset
- Check 276: Repeated components appear in the same relative order each time they appear
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.2.4 Consistent Identification (Level AA)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 81: List items must not be used to format text
- Check 100: Blockquote must not be used for indentation
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.2.5 Change on Request (Level AAA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 274: Change of context occurs only by user activation unless a warning is provided
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 267: All form submission error messages identify any empty required fields
- New check:
- Check 467: An input error is described to the user in text
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A)¶
- Removed checks:
- Check 96: All textarea elements have a label that is positioned close to control
- Check 122: All input elements, type of "password", have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 123: All input elements, type of "checkbox", have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 124: All input elements, type of "file", have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 125: All input elements, type of "radio", have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 187: Each input element has only one associated label
- Check 205: All input elements, type of "file", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 209: All select elements have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 210: All select elements have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 211: All input elements, type of "text", have a label that is positioned close to the control
- Check 217: All input elements, type of "password", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 218: All input elements, type of "text", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 219: All input elements, type of "checkbox", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 220: All input elements, type of "radio", have a label that describes the purpose or function of the control
- Check 246: All form fields that are required are indicated to the user as required
- Check 392: Each label associated with an input element contains text
- New check:
- Check 473: Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 268: All form submission error messages provide assistance in correcting the error
- New check:
- Check 468: All form submission error messages provide assistance in correcting the error
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) (Level AA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 269: Form submission data is presented to the user before final acceptance for all irreversible transactions
- New check:
- Check 469: Form submission data is presented to the user before final acceptance for all irreversible transactions
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 3.3.5 Help (Level AAA)¶
- New check:
- Check 475: Context-sensitive help is available for forms
WCAG 2.0 Success criterion 4.1.1 Parsing (Level A)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 185: ID attributes must be unique
WCAG 2.1 Success criterion 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA)¶
- Removed check:
- Check 327: Status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties
- New check:
- Check 448: Status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties
Additional resources¶
For more information and a list of current checks, see the user guide article:
Accessibility checks.