WCAG Compliance CheckWCAG 2.2 compliance: what's new and what it takes
WCAG 2.2 is the current W3C Recommendation (W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (Recommendation, 12 December 2024)). It keeps everything in WCAG 2.1 except 4.1.1 Parsing and adds 9 success criteria, 6 of them at Level A or AA.
The new Level A and AA criteria
- 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (AA): A focused component is never entirely hidden by sticky headers, footers, cookie banners or other content.
- 2.5.7 Dragging Movements (AA): Anything done by dragging (sliders, reordering, maps) can also be done with single clicks or taps.
- 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (AA): Click and tap targets are at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, or have enough spacing, unless an exception applies.
- 3.2.6 Consistent Help (A): Help options (contact details, chat, FAQ link) appear in the same relative place on every page that has them.
- 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (A): Information already entered in the same process is filled in or selectable, not asked for again.
- 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) (AA): Logging in doesn't require a cognitive test (remembering, transcribing, puzzles) unless an alternative or aid exists; paste and password managers work.
The other 3 additions (2.4.12, 2.4.13, 3.3.9) are Level AAA.
What was removed
4.1.1 Parsing is marked "obsolete and removed" in WCAG 2.2: browsers and assistive technology now handle the markup errors it was written for. Duplicate ids still matter when a label or ARIA attribute points at them, and this site's checker reports those under 4.1.2 and 1.3.1.
What "WCAG 2.2 AA compliance" means
A page conforms at Level AA when it meets all 31 Level A and 24 Level AA success criteria (55 in total), or provides a conforming alternate version. Conformance is claimed for whole pages and complete processes, never for parts of a page.
How to test
- Run automated checks on each page template; fix every failure.
- Test with the keyboard only: every control reachable, focus always visible and never hidden by sticky content (2.4.11).
- Check forms: labels, error messages, no repeated entry (3.3.7) and login without memory tests (3.3.8).
- Check targets are at least 24 by 24 px (2.5.8) and dragging has an alternative (2.5.7).
- Check help is in the same place across pages (3.2.6).
- Work through the rest of the AA checklist, ideally with people who use assistive technology.