What WCAG 1.3.3 Requires
Instructions cannot rely only on shape, size, visual location or sound, such as "click the round green button" or "see the box on the right", because that information is not available to everyone.
Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?
Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.
How to Test It by Hand
Read every instruction on the page and check that each one still makes sense described in words alone.
Common Failures
- "Click the button on the right to continue" with no other way to identify the button.
- Form errors marked only in red text or with an icon, with no text label saying what is wrong.
Related Criteria in Adaptable
WCAG 1.3.3 Questions
What does WCAG 1.3.3 require?
Instructions cannot rely only on shape, size, visual location or sound, such as "click the round green button" or "see the box on the right", because that information is not available to everyone.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.3.3 automatically?
Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.
What level is WCAG 1.3.3?
Level A, added in WCAG 2.0.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
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