Introduction to WCAG — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

DodaTech Updated 2026-06-28 4 min read

In this tutorial, you will learn about Introduction to WCAG. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices to help you master this topic.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the international standard for web accessibility developed by W3C, organized around four POUR principles with 86 success criteria across three conformance levels A, AA, and AAA.

What You'll Learn

You will learn what WCAG is, who develops it, how it is structured, and how this module will guide you through all 13 guidelines across the four principles.

Why It Matters

WCAG is referenced by accessibility laws worldwide including the ADA, Section 508, EAA, AODA, and Equality Act. Understanding WCAG is essential for legal Compliance and ethical design.

Real-World Use

DodaTech builds all products against WCAG 2.2 AA. Doda Browser includes a built-in WCAG checker. Durga Antivirus Pro's enterprise compliance depends on documented WCAG conformance.

flowchart TD
  A[WCAG] --> B[Four Principles]
  A --> C[13 Guidelines]
  A --> D[86 Success Criteria]
  A --> E[Three Levels]
  B --> F[Perceivable 1.1-1.4]
  B --> G[Operable 2.1-2.5]
  B --> H[Understandable 3.1-3.3]
  B --> I[Robust 4.1]
  E --> J[Level A: Minimum]
  E --> K[Level AA: Legal standard]
  E --> L[Level AAA: Highest]

What Is WCAG?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) through the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). WCAG 2.2 was published in October 2023 as the latest version.

How WCAG Is Structured

WCAG has four layers: principles, guidelines, success criteria, and techniques. The four principles are Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). Each principle contains guidelines. Each guideline contains testable success criteria.

Conformance Levels

Level A is the minimum. Level AA is the most common legal standard. Level AAA is the highest and not typically required by law.

This Module

This module has 20 lessons covering WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 differences, the four principles in depth, conformance levels, all success criteria, sufficient and advisory techniques, conformance claims, the WCAG-EM evaluation tool, and role-specific guidance for designers, developers, and content creators.

<!-- A WCAG-compliant page structure -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>WCAG Compliant Page</title>
</head>
<body>
  <header role="banner">
    <nav aria-label="Main">
      <ul>
        <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
      </ul>
    </nav>
  </header>
  <main>
    <h1>Welcome to WCAG Compliance</h1>
    <p>This page demonstrates WCAG principles in action.</p>
  </main>
</body>
</html>

Common Mistakes

1. Confusing WCAG with Other Standards

WCAG covers web content. ARIA covers custom widgets. Section 508 covers procurement. Each has a different purpose.

2. Targeting Only Level A

Level A is the minimum but does not meet legal requirements. Most laws require Level AA.

3. Not Understanding POUR

The four principles are the foundation of WCAG. Without understanding them, criteria seem arbitrary.

4. Ignoring WCAG Version Differences

WCAG 2.2 adds new criteria that are not present in 2.1. Targeting 2.0 means missing important requirements.

5. Treating WCAG as a Checklist

WCAG requires judgment. Automated tools catch only 30 percent of criteria. Human evaluation is essential.

6. Not Considering Context

A criterion that applies to one page may not apply to another. Evaluate each page in its context.

7. Failing to Document Conformance

Without documentation, you cannot prove conformance. Document your evaluation Process and results.

Practice Questions

1. What does WCAG stand for?

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, developed by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative.

2. What are the four POUR principles?

Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

3. How many success criteria does WCAG 2.2 have?

86 success criteria across 13 guidelines and three conformance levels.

4. What is the most common legal standard for WCAG conformance?

Level AA. Most laws including the ADA and EAA reference Level AA.

5. Challenge: Review the WCAG 2.2 specification at w3.org. Identify the 9 new success criteria added in 2.2 compared to 2.1.

FAQ

Is WCAG a law?

No. WCAG is a technical standard. Laws reference WCAG as the benchmark for compliance.

What is the difference between WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2?

Each version adds new success criteria. 2.2 is the current version and includes 9 new criteria not in 2.1.

Who creates WCAG?

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), a global community of accessibility experts, researchers, and advocates.

Do all 86 success criteria apply to every page?

No. Some criteria are not applicable depending on the content. For example, 1.2.1 (audio-only content) does not apply to pages without audio.

How long does it take to learn WCAG?

Understanding the structure takes a few hours. Applying all 86 criteria fluently takes months of practice.

Mini Project

Create a one-page WCAG reference guide. List the four principles, 13 guidelines, and the conformance levels. Include the three most important success criteria under each guideline.

What's Next

Learn about the differences between WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 and why version matters. Then explore the Four POUR Principles in depth.

Next → WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 — Version Differences and What Changed

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