Conformance Levels A, AA, AAA — Choosing Your Target

In this tutorial, you will learn about Conformance Levels A, AA, AAA. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices to help you master this topic.

WCAG conformance levels range from A (minimum) through AA (legal standard) to AAA (highest), with AA being the most common legal requirement while AAA addresses specialized needs at higher implementation cost.

What You'll Learn

You will learn what each conformance level requires, which level to target, and how conformance is claimed and verified.

Why It Matters

Choosing the right conformance level determines legal Compliance, implementation effort, and user experience quality. Targeting too low creates legal risk. Targeting too high creates unnecessary cost.

Real-World Use

DodaTech targets WCAG 2.2 AA for all products. This meets legal requirements in all jurisdictions where the company operates while the AAA criteria are implemented selectively where they provide the most user benefit.

flowchart TD
  A[Conformance Levels] --> B[Level A]
  A --> C[Level AA]
  A --> D[Level AAA]
  B --> E[Minimum accessibility]
  B --> F[31 criteria in 2.2]
  B --> G[Critical barriers removed]
  C --> H[Legal standard]
  C --> I[24 additional in 2.2]
  C --> J[Most common requirement]
  D --> K[Highest accessibility]
  D --> L[31 additional in 2.2]
  D --> M[Enhanced for specific needs]

Level A — Minimum

Level A is the minimum level of conformance. Failing any Level A criterion means your site is completely inaccessible to some users. These are the easiest and most impactful fixes.

Examples of Level A Criteria

1.1.1 Non-text Content — alt text for images. 2.1.1 Keyboard — all functionality must be available via keyboard. 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) — links must describe their purpose. 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions — form inputs must have labels.

Level AA — The Legal Standard

Level AA includes all Level A criteria plus additional criteria. It is the most common legal benchmark. The ADA, EAA, Section 508, and AODA all effectively require Level AA.

Examples of Level AA Criteria

1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) — 4.5:1 ratio for normal text. 2.4.7 Focus Visible — focus indicator must be visible. 3.3.3 Error Suggestion — error messages must suggest fixes. 2.4.11 Focus Appearance (new in 2.2).

Level AAA — The Highest Standard

Level AAA includes all Level A and AA criteria plus additional criteria. Not all content can meet AAA. It is not required by law but provides the best experience for some users.

Examples of Level AAA Criteria

1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced) — 7:1 ratio. 1.4.9 Images of Text — no images of text. 2.4.10 Section Headings — organize content with headings.

function getConformanceRequirements(targetLevel) {
  const criteria = {
    'A': { count: 31, description: '31 Level A criteria. Must pass all to claim Level A.' },
    'AA': { count: 55, description: 'All Level A plus 24 Level AA = 55 criteria. Most common legal target.' },
    'AAA': { count: 86, description: 'All Level A and AA plus 31 Level AAA = 86 criteria. Highest level.' }
  };

  const level = criteria[targetLevel];
  return level || { message: 'Valid levels: A, AA, AAA' };
}

console.log(getConformanceRequirements('AA'));

Expected output:

{ count: 55, description: 'All Level A plus 24 Level AA = 55 criteria. Most common legal target.' }

Which Level Should You Target

WCAG 2.2 AA is the recommended target for most organizations. It meets legal requirements in most jurisdictions. If you are a government agency or sell to government, AA is mandatory.

Conformance Hierarchy

Conformance is hierarchical. Level AA includes Level A. Level AAA includes Level AA. You cannot claim AA without meeting all A criteria.

How Conformance Is Claimed

A conformance claim states which WCAG version and level the content meets, the scope of the claim, and the evaluation method used.

Common Mistakes

1. Claiming AA Without Passing All A Criteria

AA includes A. If any A criterion fails, you cannot claim AA. Test A criteria first.

2. Thinking AAA Is Always Required

AAA is not required by law. Some AAA criteria are impossible for certain content types.

3. Assuming Higher Level Is Always Better

AAA comes with tradeoffs. The 7:1 contrast ratio limits design options. Balance Accessibility with other requirements.

4. Not Documenting Which Criteria Are Not Applicable

If a criterion does not apply to your content, document why. This is part of the conformance claim.

5. Targeting AA but Ignoring AAA Where Easy

Some AAA criteria are easy to implement. Implement them where the effort is low and the benefit is high.

6. Confusing Level with Version

Version (2.2) and level (AA) are independent. You can claim WCAG 2.2 A, AA, or AAA.

7. Not Testing All Criteria at the Claimed Level

You cannot claim AA by testing only Level A. All AA criteria must be tested and passed.

Practice Questions

1. What are the three WCAG conformance levels?

Level A (minimum), Level AA (legal standard), Level AAA (highest).

2. How many criteria are required for WCAG 2.2 Level AA?

55 criteria (31 Level A + 24 Level AA).

3. Is WCAG AAA required by law?

No. Most laws require Level AA. Some AAA criteria are not applicable to all content.

4. What is the conformance hierarchy?

AA includes A. AAA includes AA. You cannot skip levels.

5. Challenge: Review your organization's current WCAG target level. Determine if it is appropriate for your legal requirements and user needs. Recommend a change if needed.

FAQ

Mini Project

Create a conformance level decision matrix for your organization. List factors: legal requirements, user needs, budget, timeline. Use the matrix to recommend a conformance level target.

What's Next

Explore Perceivable Guidelines 1.1 through 1.4 in depth. Then learn about Operable Guidelines 2.1 through 2.5.