How WCAG 2.2 Accessibility Checker Works
The WCAG 2.2 Accessibility Checker audits web pages against the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, identifying barriers that prevent people with disabilities from using your site. It tests all three conformance levels (A, AA, AAA) and provides actionable remediation guidance for every issue found.
Enter a URL or paste HTML directly into the tool. The checker runs automated tests covering over 80 WCAG 2.2 success criteria, including new requirements like focus appearance, dragging movements, and consistent help placement. Results are organized by conformance level and impact severity (critical, serious, moderate, minor).
For each issue detected, the tool shows the exact HTML element causing the problem, explains why it fails the criterion, and provides a code-level fix. For example, if an image lacks alt text, it highlights the specific img tag, explains WCAG 1.1.1, and shows the corrected markup.
The checker also performs color contrast analysis across your entire page, testing text against backgrounds at both AA (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text) and AAA (7:1 and 4.5:1) thresholds. Interactive elements are tested for sufficient focus indicators, touch target sizes (minimum 24x24 CSS pixels), and keyboard operability.
Results can be exported as a structured accessibility report suitable for compliance documentation, developer handoff, or VPAT preparation. The report includes pass/fail status for each tested criterion, affected elements, and priority-ranked remediation steps.
Key Terms Explained
- Conformance Level
- WCAG defines three levels: A (minimum accessibility), AA (standard target for most organizations and legal compliance), and AAA (highest level, not required in full for most sites).
- Color Contrast Ratio
- The luminance difference between foreground text and its background, expressed as a ratio. WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold).
- ARIA
- Accessible Rich Internet Applications—a set of HTML attributes that define roles, states, and properties to make dynamic web content accessible to assistive technologies like screen readers.
- Focus Indicator
- A visible outline or highlight shown when an interactive element receives keyboard focus. WCAG 2.2 requires a minimum 2px contrasting indicator that meets a 3:1 contrast ratio.
- Touch Target
- The interactive area of a clickable/tappable element. WCAG 2.2 Level AA requires a minimum size of 24x24 CSS pixels to accommodate users with motor impairments.
Who Needs This Tool
Building a new React application and needs to catch accessibility issues during development before they reach production and affect real users.
Preparing for an ADA audit and needs a comprehensive report documenting which WCAG criteria the organization's website passes and fails.
Received a demand letter about website accessibility and needs to quickly identify and prioritize the most critical issues to fix first.
Designing a new checkout flow and wants to validate that color choices, button sizes, and form patterns meet WCAG AA before developer handoff.
Publishing blog posts and needs to ensure images have proper alt text, headings are correctly nested, and link text is descriptive.
Methodology & Formulas
Testing uses a rule engine mapped to WCAG 2.2 success criteria. Automated checks cover approximately 30-40% of all criteria (the portion testable without human judgment). Each rule maps to specific HTML patterns—missing ARIA labels, insufficient contrast ratios calculated via the WCAG relative luminance formula ((L1 + 0.05) / (L2 + 0.05)), improper heading hierarchy, and missing form labels. Results are severity-ranked using the ACT Rules Community Group framework.
Pro Tips
- Start with Level AA compliance—it covers the most impactful barriers and is the standard referenced by most accessibility laws (ADA, Section 508, EAA).
- Don't rely solely on automated testing—it catches about 30-40% of issues. Use the report as a starting point, then manually test with a keyboard and screen reader.
- Fix critical issues first (missing alt text, no keyboard access, empty form labels) as these completely block access for some users.
- Test your most-visited pages first: homepage, main navigation, contact form, and checkout/conversion flows.
- Re-run the checker after every major release—new code frequently introduces regressions, especially in dynamic JavaScript components.