GoDaddy WCAG 2.1 Checker

WCAG 2.1 for GoDaddy Sites

WCAG 2.1 became a W3C Recommendation in June 2018. It added criteria for mobile, low vision and cognitive accessibility to WCAG 2.0, and it is the standard named in the US Department of Justice rule for state and local government websites, in EN 301 549 V3.2.1 and in most accessibility settlements.

This checker runs the free scan with the WCAG 2.1 AA preset, so the results match the standard your contract, policy or regulator is most likely to name for a GoDaddy site.

For a site on GoDaddy, WCAG 2.1 compliance depends on the theme, builder or code you run, not the hosting. Scan the live pages and fix issues in that software.

Who Should Run the GoDaddy WCAG 2.1 Checker

• GoDaddy site owners whose contracts or policies name WCAG 2.1 AA.
• State and local government bodies, under the ADA Title II rule.
• Businesses responding to an ADA demand letter, which usually cites WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Public sector bodies in the EU, under the Web Accessibility Directive.

WCAG 2.1 Criteria That Often Fail on GoDaddy

• 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose

  Form fields that collect personal data, such as name, email and address, need the right autocomplete attribute.

• 1.4.10 Reflow

  Content must reflow at 320 CSS pixels wide, the same as 400% zoom, without scrolling in two directions.

• 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast

  Buttons, form borders, icons and focus indicators need a contrast ratio of at least 3:1.

• 1.4.12 Text Spacing

  Text must stay readable when users increase line, paragraph, letter and word spacing.

• 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus

  Tooltips and menus that appear on hover or focus must be dismissible, hoverable and stay visible.

• 4.1.3 Status Messages

  Messages such as “added to cart” or form errors must be announced to screen readers without moving focus.

Where GoDaddy Sites Usually Fail WCAG 2.1

These problems come up again and again on GoDaddy sites, and each one fails WCAG 2.1. The GoDaddy accessibility checker explains how to fix them in GoDaddy.

• Images without alt text. Images added to builder sections and galleries are easy to publish without describing them.
• Section color contrast. Text placed over images or colored section backgrounds often lacks enough contrast.
• Booking and contact forms. Forms need visible labels and clear error messages that screen readers announce.
• Online store pages. Product options, cart buttons and quantity controls need accessible names and keyboard support.
• Link text. Buttons and links such as "Learn more" repeated across sections do not say where they go.

Worried about ADA claims as well? The GoDaddy ADA compliance checker covers the GoDaddy risks behind most complaints.

What to Test by Hand on GoDaddy

Automated testing finds many, but not all, WCAG 2.1 failures. Check these yourself after the scan:

1. Zoom to 400% and check nothing is cut off or needs scrolling in two directions (1.4.10).
2. Apply increased text spacing with a bookmarklet and check text is still readable (1.4.12).
3. Open hover menus and tooltips and check you can dismiss them with Escape (1.4.13).
4. Rescan after each fix. Continuous monitoring rescans up to 500 URLs per domain daily and keeps a dated record in the Compliance Vault.

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Related Guides

• WCAG 2.1 AA CheckerThe WCAG 2.1 standard in full, for any website.
• WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content explained simply: how to write alt text for every kind of image, icon, chart and CAPTCHA, with code examples and a test routine.
• WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) explained simply: the 4.5:1 and 3:1 ratios, what counts as large text, the exceptions, fixes and how to test your colors.
• ADA Website Compliance: What Businesses Need to KnowHow the ADA applies to websites, which WCAG level courts and regulators reference, the Title II rule for public entities, and practical steps to reduce risk.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

GoDaddy WCAG 2.1 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions