ReferenceIntermediate4-6 min reference
WCAG Quick Reference for QA
WCAG is large; most defects cluster around a handful of checks you can do without specialist tools. This sheet is that shortlist — the level, the practical test, and what failure looks like. It complements the fuller Accessibility Testing sheet and the contrast/checker utilities linked below.
Conformance levels
A (must), AA (the common legal/target bar), AAA (enhanced). Most teams test to AA.
The high-yield checks
| Check | WCAG | How to test by hand | Fails when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard only | 2.1.1 (A) | Unplug the mouse; Tab/Shift-Tab/Enter/Esc through everything | A control can't be reached or operated |
| Visible focus | 2.4.7 (AA) | Tab around and watch | No visible focus ring |
| Focus order | 2.4.3 (A) | Tab order follows reading order | Focus jumps around illogically |
| Text contrast | 1.4.3 (AA) | Contrast checker — 4.5:1 text, 3:1 large/UI | Below the ratio |
| Text alternatives | 1.1.1 (A) | Inspect images for meaningful alt | Informative image has empty/missing alt |
| Form labels | 1.3.1 / 4.1.2 | Every input has a programmatic <label> | Placeholder used as the only label |
| Error identification | 3.3.1 (A) | Submit invalid data | Errors shown by colour only / not announced |
| Headings & landmarks | 1.3.1 (A) | Check h1…h6 order; one h1 | Skipped levels; headings used for size |
| Resize / reflow | 1.4.4 / 1.4.10 (AA) | Zoom to 200% | Content clipped or horizontal scroll |
| Page language | 3.1.1 (A) | View source for <html lang> | Missing or wrong |
When to use
A pre-merge sanity pass on a new screen, or triaging an accessibility bug. Automated tools (axe) catch ~30–40% of issues — pair them with these manual checks; don't rely on either alone.
Common mistakes
- Relying on the automated scan only — keyboard and focus order are manual.
- Placeholder text mistaken for a label.
- Conveying errors/status with colour alone.
- Testing at 100% zoom only, missing reflow failures.
- Decorative images given verbose alt text (they should be empty
alt="").
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