2026-02-01 · Fundamentals
WCAG Explained in Plain English
By TestAccessibility
Tags: wcagpolicy
What WCAG is
WCAG is a shared vocabulary for making web content work for people with disabilities. It is organized around four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust—often remembered as POUR.
Levels matter
A removes the worst blockers. AA is the common organizational target for websites because it balances coverage and feasibility. AAA is stricter and often reserved for slices of a product.
Not every success criterion is automatic
Some rules need human judgment—like whether instructions are clear in context. Automated tools still save time by catching issues that are machine-detectable.
How teams adopt WCAG
Design tokens encode contrast-friendly colors. Components ship with labels and focus styles. Editors get short training on headings and links. Legal and product align on an AA roadmap rather than ad hoc fixes.
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