Writing Instructions Without Relying on Sensory Characteristics
Writing Instructions Without Relying on Sensory Characteristics records the WCAG 2.2 content requirement as a distinct instruction-writing intent.
Do not make instructions depend only on sensory descriptions such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound; identify the control or content in another usable way as well.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Sensory wording may still be supplementary; the problem is relying on it as the only way to identify what the user must do.
Further guidance
Content
Name the control, field, section, or action in addition to any sensory cue that helps sighted or hearing users.
Purpose
Instructions remain understandable to users who cannot perceive a referenced sensory characteristic.
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 1.3.3: Sensory Characteristics — WCAG 2.2 (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · W3C WCAG 2.2 Understanding guidance that instructions should not rely solely on sensory characteristics such as shape, color, size, location, orientation or sound.