Foundations

What WCAG is, its versions, principles, and conformance levels.

• What Is WCAG? The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Explained

  WCAG is the technical standard that defines what makes a website accessible to people with disabilities. Here's who writes it, what it covers, and why it matters.

• WCAG Versions Explained: 2.0 vs 2.1 vs 2.2 vs 3.0

  WCAG has been updated three times since 2008, each time adding criteria rather than replacing old ones. Here's what changed in each version and which one actually matters for compliance today.

• The 4 POUR Principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust

  Every WCAG success criterion falls under one of four principles. Here's what each one means, with a real example violation for each.

• WCAG Conformance Levels: A, AA, and AAA Explained

  WCAG defines three conformance levels of increasing strictness. Here's what each one requires, and why almost every law and standard settles on AA.

• WCAG Guidelines Overview: The 13 Guidelines Under POUR

  WCAG's four principles break down into 13 guidelines, each grouping related success criteria. Here's what each guideline covers, in one line.

• Is WCAG a Law? How the Guidelines Map to Real Legal Requirements

  WCAG itself isn't legislation, but it's the technical standard nearly every accessibility law and regulation points to. Here's exactly which law requires which WCAG version and level.