Writing Context-Sensitive Help Text for Accessibility
Writing Context-Sensitive Help Text for Accessibility records WCAG 2.2 help guidance as a bounded content-writing intent, rather than expanding generic instructions into another duplicate page.
When a form or process needs assistance beyond its labels and instructions, provide help that is relevant to the user’s current task and makes the expected input or action clearer.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Not every control needs extra help; labels or instructions may already provide sufficient information.
Further guidance
Content
Keep help text specific to the current field, step, or task and explain what users need to know to proceed.
Purpose
Context-sensitive help reduces uncertainty when labels or general instructions are not enough.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.5: Help — WCAG 2.2 (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · W3C WCAG 2.2 Understanding guidance on consistent help and context-sensitive help for forms and processes.