WCAG Master Guide: Input Assistance

Browsing the web often includes completing forms, taking a quiz, or making a purchase. And, while these tasks are simple enough for most people, users with disabilities can find them more challenging. 

The input assistance requirements outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can help you provide a better user experience to all of your website visitors.

What Is Input Assistance?

It’s not unusual to make mistakes when completing a task online, however, some users have a higher chance of creating input errors. 

What’s more, it can be more difficult for them to realize an error has occurred. This could be due to mobility issues, limited color perception, or poor vision. 

WCAG’s input assistance guidelines are designed to help reduce input errors and ensure a user is aware that an error has occurred and understands how to correct it. 

WCAG Input Assistance Success Criteria

Here are the success criteria you would need to meet for input assistance in order to achieve Level A or higher.

Error Identification

When an input error occurs on your site, it should be automatically detected and highlighted to a user in text format. The purpose of the error identification criteria is to make a user fully aware of the error and provide more details on what the error means.

Labels or Instructions

Any elements on your site that require user input should come with clear labels and/or instructions. 

Users should know exactly what information to enter or what options they’re selecting when it comes to checkboxes and radio buttons. You can also specify rules for correct inputs such as data limits and formats.

Error Suggestion

When an input error occurs, users should receive suggestions on how to correct it, unless it would jeopardize the security or purpose of the content they’re interacting with. Website owners and developers shouldn’t automatically assume a user will know how to correct an error.

Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)

For websites that process legal commitments or financial transactions, users need to be able review and confirm their submission is correct before it’s finalized and reverse any inputs where necessary. Developers should also ensure that data is automatically checked for input errors before being submitted. 

Input Assistance Best Practices

To achieve Level AA by complying with the necessary input modality requirements of WCAG, here are some best practices you can follow: 

1. Make your forms easy to use and understand. Make your forms as uncomplicated as possible. Provide users with as much context as you can to ensure they know exactly what is required of them at every stage.
2. Have a review function. Give your website visitors the chance to review their submissions and the opportunity to make corrections before they submit a form, test, or quiz. 
3. Avoid clutter. Even though you should provide users with important cues and instructions, don’t overdo it. Clutter can lead to a confusing and frustrating user experience. Keep your instructions and labels simple and clear. 

Frequently Asked Questions