What WCAG 1.3.6 Requires
AAA only: the purpose of icons, regions and UI components should be programmatically identifiable, for example through ARIA landmarks or the emerging purpose attributes, so assistive technology can adapt its presentation.
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
Check that major regions (navigation, search, main content) use identifiable landmark roles beyond basic structure.
Common Failures
- Icons for common actions (cart, search, account) have no identifiable purpose beyond a generic image.
Related Criteria in Adaptable
WCAG 1.3.6 Questions
What does WCAG 1.3.6 require?
AAA only: the purpose of icons, regions and UI components should be programmatically identifiable, for example through ARIA landmarks or the emerging purpose attributes, so assistive technology can adapt its presentation.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.3.6 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 1.3.6?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.1. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 1.3.6 Identify Purpose (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
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