Checkpoints |
Content/
User Agent/
Both |
Content type labels |
Satisfied |
Comments |
Checkpoint 1.1 Full
keyboard access. (P1)
- Ensure that the user can operate through keyboard input alone any user
agent functionality available through the user interface.
(Techniques for 1.1) |
For both content and user agent. |
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Checkpoint
1.2 Activate event handlers. (P1)
- For the element with content focus, allow the user to activate any
explicitly associated input device event handlers through keyboard input
alone.
- The user agent is not required to allow activation of event handlers
associated with a given device (e.g., the pointing device) in any order other
than what the device itself allows.
(Techniques for 1.2) |
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Checkpoint 1.3 Provide text
messages. (P1)
- Ensure that every message (e.g., prompt, alert, notification, etc.) that is
a non-text element and is part of the user agent user interface has a text
equivalent.
(Techniques
for 1.3) |
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Checkpoint 2.1 Render
content according to specification. (P1)
- Render content according to format specification (e.g., for a markup
language or style sheet).
- When a rendering requirement of another specification contradicts a
requirement of the current document, the user agent may disregard the rendering
requirement of the other specification and still satisfy this checkpoint.
- Rendering requirements include format-defined interactions between author
preferences and user preferences/capabilities (e.g., when to render the
"
alt " attribute in HTML, the rendering order of nested
OBJECT elements in HTML, test attributes in SMIL, and the cascade in
CSS2).
(Techniques for 2.1) |
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Checkpoint 2.2 Provide
text view. (P1)
- For content authored in text formats, provide a view of the text source.
For the purposes of this document, text formats are defined to be:
- all media objects given an Internet media type of "text" (e.g., text/plain,
text/HTML, or text/*) as defined in RFC 2046 [RFC2046],
section 4.1.
- all SGML and XML applications, regardless of Internet media type (e.g.,
HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.1, SMIL, SVG, etc.).
(Techniques
for 2.2) |
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Checkpoint 2.3 Render
conditional content. (P1)
- Allow configuration to provide access to each piece of unrendered
conditional content "C".
- The configuration may be a switch that, for all content, turns on or off
the access mechanisms described in the next provision.
- When a specification does not explain how to provide access to this
content, do so as follows:
- If C is a summary, title, alternative, description, or expansion of another
piece of content D, provide access through at least one of the following
mechanisms:
- (1a) render C in place of D;
- (2a) render C in addition to D;
- (3a) provide access to C by querying D. In this case, the user agent must
also alert the user, on a per-element basis, to the existence of C (so that the
user knows to query D);
- (4a) allow the user to follow a link to C from the context of D.
- Otherwise, provide access to C through at least one of the following
mechanisms:
- (1b) render a placeholder for C, and allow the user to view the original
author-supplied content associated with each placeholder;
- (2b) provide access to C by query (e.g., allow the user to query an element
for its attributes). In this case, the user agent must also alert the user, on
a per-element basis, to the existence of C;
- (3b) allow the user to follow a link in context to C.
- To satisfy this checkpoint, the user agent may provide access on a
per-element basis (e.g., by allowing the user to query individual elements) or
for all elements (e.g., by offering a configuration to render conditional
content all the time).
(Techniques for 2.3) |
For all content. |
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Checkpoint 2.4 Allow
time-independent interaction. (P1)
- For rendered content where user input is only possible within a finite time
interval controlled by the user agent, allow configuration to provide a view
where user interaction is time-independent.
- The user agent may satisfy this checkpoint by pausing processing
automatically to allow for user input, and resuming processing on explicit user
request. When this technique is used, pause at the end of each time interval
where user input is possible. In the paused state:
- Alert the user that the rendered content has been paused (e.g., highlight
the "pause" button in a multimedia player's control panel).
- Highlight which enabled elements are time-sensitive.
- Allow the user to interact with the enabled elements.
- Allow the user to resume on explicit user request (e.g., by pressing the
"play" button in a multimedia player's control panel; see also checkpoint 4.5).
- The user agent may satisfy this checkpoint by generating a time-independent
("static") view, based on the original content, that offers the user the same
opportunities for interaction. The static view should reflect the structure and
flow of the original time-sensitive presentation; orientation cues will help
users understand the context for various interaction opportunities.
- When satisfying this checkpoint for a real-time presentation, the user
agent may discard packets that continue to arrive after the construction of the
time-independent view (e.g., when paused or after the construction of a static
view).
(Techniques
for 2.4) |
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Checkpoint
2.5 Make captions, transcripts available.
(P1)
- Allow configuration or control to render text transcripts, collated text
transcripts, captions, and auditory descriptions at the same time as the
associated audio tracks and visual tracks.
(Techniques for 2.5) |
For all content. |
Video
Audio |
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Checkpoint 2.6 Respect
synchronization cues. (P1)
- Respect synchronization cues (e.g., in markup) during rendering.
(Techniques for 2.6) |
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Video
Audio |
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Checkpoint
3.1 Toggle background images.
(P1)
- Allow configuration not to render background image content.
- In this configuration, the user agent is not required to retrieve
background images from the Web.
- This checkpoint only requires control of background images for "two-layered
renderings", i.e., one rendered background image with all other content
rendered "above it".
(Techniques for 3.1) |
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Image |
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Checkpoint 3.2 Toggle
audio, video, animated images. (P1)
- Allow configuration not to render audio, video, or animated image content,
except on explicit user request. This configuration is required for content
rendered without any user interaction (including content rendered on load or as
the result of a script), as well as content rendered as the result of user
interaction (e.g., when the user activates a link).
- The user agent may satisfy this checkpoint by making video and animated
images invisible and audio silent, but this technique is not recommended.
- When configured not to render content except on explicit user request, the
user agent is not required to retrieve the audio, video, or animated image from
the Web until requested by the user.
(Techniques for 3.2) |
|
Animation
Video
Audio |
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Checkpoint 3.3 Toggle
animated/blinking text. (P1)
- Allow configuration to render animated or blinking text content. as
motionless, unblinking text. Blinking text is text whose visual rendering
alternates between visible and invisible, any rate of change.
- In this configuration, the user must still have access to the same text
content, but the user agent may render it in a separate viewport (e.g., for
large amounts of streaming text).
- The user agent also satisfies this checkpoint by always rendering animated
or blinking text as motionless, unblinking text.
(Techniques for 3.3) |
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VisualText |
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Checkpoint 3.4 Toggle
scripts. (P1)
- Allow configuration not to execute any executable content (e.g., scripts
and applets).
- In this configuration, provide an option to alert the user when executable
content is available (but has not been executed).
- The user agent is only required to alert the user to the presence of more
than zero scripts or applets (i.e., per-element alerts are not required).
(Techniques
for 3.4) |
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Checkpoint
3.5 Toggle content refresh. (P1)
- Allow configuration so that the user agent only refreshes content on
explicit user request.
- In this configuration, alert the user of the refresh rate specified in
content, and allow the user to request fresh content manually (e.g., by
following a link or confirming a prompt).
- When the user chooses not to refresh content, the user agent may ignore
that content; buffering is not required.
- This checkpoint only applies when the user agent (not the server)
automatically initiates the request for fresh content.
(Techniques for 3.5) |
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Checkpoint
4.1 Configure text size. (P1)
- Allow global configuration of the reference size of visually rendered text,
with an option to override reference sizes specified by the author or user
agent defaults.
- Offer a range of text sizes to the user that includes at least:
- the range offered by the conventional utility available in the operating
environment that allows users to choose the text size (e.g., the font
size),
- or, if no such utility is available, the range of text sizes supported by
the conventional APIs of the operating environment for drawing text.
(Techniques for 4.1) |
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VisualText |
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Checkpoint
4.2 Configure font family. (P1)
- Allow global configuration of the font family of all visually rendered
text, with an option to override font families specified by the author or by
user agent defaults.
- Offer a range of font families to the user that includes at least:
- the range offered by the conventional utility available in the operating
environment that allows users to choose the font family,
- or, if no such utility is available, the range of font families supported
by the conventional APIs of the operating environment for drawing text.
- For text that cannot be rendered properly using the user's preferred font
family, the user agent may substitute an alternative font family.
(Techniques for 4.2) |
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VisualText |
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Checkpoint
4.3 Configure text colors. (P1)
- Allow global configuration of the foreground and background color of all
visually rendered text, with an option to override foreground and background
colors specified by the author or user agent defaults.
- Offer a range of colors to the user that includes at least:
- the range offered by the conventional utility available in the operating
environment that allows users to choose colors,
- or, if no such utility is available, the range of colors supported by the
conventional APIs of the operating environment for specifying colors.
(Techniques for 4.3) |
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ColorText |
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Checkpoint 4.4 Slow
multimedia. (P1)
- Allow the user to slow the presentation rate of rendered audio and
animations (including video and animated images).
- For a visual track, provide at least one setting between 40% and 60% of the
original speed.
- For a prerecorded audio track including audio-only presentations, provide
at least one setting between 75% and 80% of the original speed.
- When the user agent allows the user to slow the visual track of a
synchronized multimedia presentation to between 100% and 80% of its original
speed, synchronize the visual and audio tracks. Below 80%, the user agent is
not required to render the audio track.
- The user agent is not required to satisfy this checkpoint for audio and
animations whose recognized role is to create a purely stylistic effect.
(Techniques
for 4.4) |
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Animation
Audio |
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Checkpoint 4.5 Start,
stop, pause, and navigate multimedia. (P1)
- Allow the user to stop, pause, and resume rendered audio and animations
(including video and animated images) that last three or more seconds at their
default playback rate.
- Allow the user to navigate efficiently within audio and animations
(including video and animated images) that last three or more seconds at their
default playback rate. The user agent may satisfy this requirement through
forward and backward sequential access techniques (e.g., advance three
seconds), or direct access techniques (e.g., play starting at the 10-minute
mark), or some combination.
- When serial techniques are used to satisfy the previous requirement, the
user agent is not required to play back content during serial advance or rewind
(though doing so may help orient the user).
- The user agent is not required to satisfy this checkpoint for audio and
animations whose recognized role is to create a purely stylistic effect.
- When the user pauses a real-time audio or animation, the user agent may
discard packets that continue to arrive during the pause.
(Techniques for 4.5) |
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Animation
Audio |
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Checkpoint 4.6 Position
captions. (P1)
- For graphical viewports, allow the user to position rendered captions with
respect to synchronized visual tracks as follows:
- if the user agent satisfies this checkpoint by using a markup language or
style sheet language to provide configuration or control, then the user agent
must allow the user to choose from among at least the range of positions
enabled by the format
- otherwise the user agent must allow both non-overlapping and overlapping
positions (e.g., by rendering captions in a separate viewport that may be
positioned on top of the visual track).
- In either case, the user agent must allow the user to override the author's
specified position.
- The user agent is not required to change the layout of other content (i.e.,
reflow) after the user has changed the position of captions.
- The user agent is not required to make the captions background transparent
when those captions are rendered above a related video track.
(Techniques for 4.6) |
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Checkpoint
4.9 Global volume control. (P1)
- Allow global configuration of the volume of all rendered audio, with an
option to override audio volumes specified by the author or user agent
defaults.
- Allow the user to choose zero volume (i.e., silent).
(Techniques for 4.9) |
|
Audio |
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Checkpoint
4.10 Independent volume control.
(P1)
- Allow independent control of the volumes of rendered audio sources
synchronized to play simultaneously.
- The user agent is not required to satisfy this checkpoint for audio whose
recognized role is to create a purely stylistic effect.
- The user control required by this checkpoint includes the ability to
override author-specified volumes for the relevant sources of audio.
(Techniques for 4.10) |
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Audio |
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Checkpoint
4.12 Configure synthesized speech rate.
(P1)
- Allow configuration of the synthesized speech rate, according to the full
range offered by the speech synthesizer.
(Techniques for 4.12) |
|
Speech |
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Checkpoint
4.13 Configure synthesized speech volume.
(P1)
- Allow control of the synthesized speech volume, independent of other
sources of audio.
- The user control required by this checkpoint includes the ability to
override author-specified synthesized speech volume.
(Techniques for 4.13) |
|
Speech |
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Checkpoint
4.14 Configure synthesized speech characteristics. (P1)
- Allow configuration of synthesized speech characteristics according to the
full range of values offered by the speech synthesizer.
(Techniques for 4.14) |
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Checkpoint 4.17 Choose
style sheets. (P1)
- For user agents that support style sheets:
- Allow the user to choose from and apply available author style sheets (in
content).
- Allow the user to choose from and apply available user style sheets.
- Allow the user to ignore author and user style sheets.
(Techniques for 4.17) |
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Checkpoint 6.1 DOM read
access. (P1)
- Provide programmatic read access to HTML and
XML content by conforming to the following modules of the W3C
Document Object Model DOM
Level 2 Core Specification [DOM2CORE] and exporting the
interfaces they define:
- the Core module for HTML;
- the Core and XML modules for XML.
(Techniques
for 6.1) |
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Checkpoint 6.2 DOM write
access. (P1)
- If the user can modify HTML and XML content through the
user interface, provide the same functionality programmatically by conforming
to the following modules of the W3C Document Object Model DOM Level 2 Core Specification
[DOM2CORE] and exporting the interfaces they define:
- the Core module for HTML;
- the Core and XML modules for XML.
(Techniques
for 6.2) |
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Checkpoint
6.3 Programmatic access to non-HTML/XML content. (P1)
- For markup languages other than HTML and
XML, provide programmatic read access to content.
- Provide programmatic write access for those parts of content that the user
can modify through the user interface. To satisfy these requirements, implement
at least one API that is either
- defined by a W3C Recommendation, or
- a publicly documented API designed to enable interoperability with
assistive technologies.
- If no such API is available, or if available APIs do not enable the user
agent to satisfy the requirements, implement at least one publicly documented
API to satisfy the requirements, and follow operating environment
conventions for the use of input and output APIs.
- An API is considered available if the specification of the API is published
(e.g., as a W3C Recommendation) in time for integration into a user agent's
development cycle.
(Techniques for 6.3) |
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Checkpoint 6.4 Programmatic
operation. (P1)
- Provide programmatic read access to user agent user interface
controls.
- Provide programmatic write access for those controls that the user can
modify through the user interface. For security reasons, user agents are not
required to allow instructions in content to modify user agent user interface
controls.
- To satisfy these requirements, implement at least one API that is either
- defined by a W3C Recommendation, or
- a publicly documented API designed to enable interoperability with
assistive technologies.
- If no such API is available, or if available APIs do not enable the user
agent to satisfy the requirements, implement at least one publicly documented
API that allows programmatic operation of all of the functionalities that are
available through the user agent user interface, and follow operating
environment conventions for the use of input and output APIs.
- An API is considered available if the specification of the API is published
(e.g., as a W3C Recommendation) in time for integration into a user agent's
development cycle.
(Techniques
for 6.4) |
For user agent features. |
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Checkpoint 6.5 Programmatic
alert of changes. (P1)
- Provide programmatic alert of changes to content, user interface controls,
selection, content focus, and user interface focus.
- To satisfy these requirements, implement at least one API that is either
- defined by a W3C Recommendation, or
- a publicly documented API designed to enable interoperability with
assistive technologies.
- If no such API is available, or if available APIs do not enable the user
agent to satisfy the requirements, implement at least one publicly documented
API to satisfy the requirements, and follow operating environment
conventions for the use of input and output APIs.
- An API is considered available if the specification of the API is published
(e.g., as a W3C Recommendation) in time for integration into a user agent's
development cycle.
(Techniques
for 6.5) |
For both content and user agent. |
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Checkpoint 6.6 Conventional
keyboard APIs. (P1)
- Follow operating environment conventions when implementing APIs for the
keyboard.
- If such APIs for the keyboard do not exist, implement publicly documented
APIs for the keyboard.
(Techniques
for 6.6) |
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Checkpoint 6.7 API
character encodings. (P1)
- For an API implemented to satisfy requirements of this document, support
the character encodings required for that API.
(Techniques
for 6.7) |
For both content and user agent. |
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Checkpoint
7.1 Focus and selection conventions.
(P1)
- Follow operating environment conventions that benefit accessibility when
implementing the selection, content focus, and user interface focus.
(Techniques for 7.1) |
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Checkpoint
7.2 Respect input configuration conventions.
(P1)
- Ensure that default input configurations of the user agent do not interfere
with operating environment accessibility conventions (e.g., for keyboard
accessibility).
(Techniques for 7.2) |
For user agent features. |
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Checkpoint
8.1 Implement accessibility features.
(P1)
- Implement the accessibility features of specifications (markup languages,
style sheet languages, metadata languages, graphics formats, etc.). For the
purposes of this checkpoint, an accessibility feature is either
- one identified as such, or
- one that allows the author to satisfy any requirement of the "Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines 1.0" [WCAG10].
(Techniques for 8.1) |
For all content. |
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Checkpoint 9.1 Provide
content focus. (P1)
- Provide at least one content focus for each viewport (including frames)
where enabled elements are part of the rendered content.
- Allow the user to make the content focus of each viewport the current
focus.
(Techniques for 9.1) |
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Checkpoint 9.2 Provide user
interface focus. (P1)
- Provide a user interface focus.
(Techniques
for 9.2) |
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Checkpoint 9.3 Move content
focus. (P1)
- Allow the user to move the content focus to any enabled element in the
viewport.
- Allow configuration so that the content focus of a viewport only changes on
explicit user request. Configuration is not required if the content focus only
ever changes on explicit user request. See also checkpoint 5.1.
- If the author has not specified a navigation order, allow at least forward
sequential navigation to each element, in document order.
- The user agent may also include disabled elements in the navigation
order.
(Techniques
for 9.3) |
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Checkpoint
9.4 Restore history. (P1)
- For user agents that implement a viewport history mechanism, for each state
in a viewport's browsing history, maintain information about the point of
regard, content focus, and selection.
- When the user returns to any state in the viewport history, restore the
saved values for these three state variables.
(Techniques for 9.4) |
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Checkpoint 10.1 Table
orientation. (P1)
- Make available to the user the purpose of each rendered table (e.g., as
expressed in a summary or table caption) and the relationships among the table
cells and headers.
(Techniques
for 10.1) |
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Checkpoint
10.2 Highlight selection and content focus.
(P1)
- Provide a mechanism for highlighting the selection and content focus of
each viewport.
- The highlight mechanism must not rely on color alone.
- Allow global configuration of selection and focus highlight styles.
- For graphical viewports, if the highlight mechanism involves colors or text
decorations, offer a range of colors or text decorations to the user that
includes at least:
- the range offered by the conventional utility available in the operating
environment that allows users to choose colors or text decorations,
- or, if no such utility is available, the range of colors or text
decorations supported by the conventional APIs of the operating environment for
specifying colors or drawing text.
(Techniques for 10.2) |
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Checkpoint 10.3 Distinct
default highlight styles. (P1)
- Ensure that all of the default highlight styles for the selection and
content focus, as well as for enabled elements, recently visited links, and fee
links in rendered content:
- do not rely on color alone, and
- differ from each other, and not by color alone.
- This checkpoint does not apply to those highlight styles inherited from the
operating environment as default values, as long as the user can change the
styles in the operating environment.
(Techniques for 10.3) |
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Checkpoint
10.7 Highlight current viewport.
(P1)
- Provide a mechanism for highlighting the viewport with the current focus
(including any frame that takes current focus).
- For graphical viewports, the default highlight mechanism must not rely on
color alone.
- This default color requirement does not apply if the highlight mechanism is
inherited from the operating environment as the default and the user can change
it in the operating environment.
(Techniques for 10.7) |
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Checkpoint
11.1 Current user bindings. (P1)
- Provide information to the user about current user preferences for input
configurations.
- To satisfy this checkpoint, the user agent may make available binding
information in a centralized fashion (e.g., a list of bindings) or a
distributed fashion (e.g., by listing keyboard shortcuts in user interface
menus).
(Techniques for 11.1) |
For user agent features. |
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Checkpoint 12.1 Accessible
documentation. (P1)
- Ensure that at least one version of the user agent documentation conforms
to at least Level Double-A of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
[WCAG10].
(Techniques
for 12.1) |
For user agent features. |
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Checkpoint
12.2 Document accessibility features.
(P1)
- Document all user agent features that benefit accessibility.
- For the purposes of this checkpoint, a user agent feature that benefits
accessibility is one implemented to satisfy the requirements of this document
(including the requirements of checkpoints 8.1 and 7.3).
- The user agent may satisfy this checkpoint either by
- providing a centralized view of the accessibility features, or
- integrating accessibility features into the rest of the documentation.
(Techniques for 12.2) |
For user agent features. |
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Checkpoint
12.3 Document default bindings.
(P1)
- Document the default user agent input configuration (e.g., the default
keyboard bindings).
(Techniques for 12.3) |
For user agent features. |
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