What WCAG 1.4.12 Requires
Content must remain readable and functional when a visitor overrides text spacing (line height, paragraph spacing, letter and word spacing) to the values in the success criterion.
Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?
Yes. AccessBell's scanner runs axe-core, which includes 1 rule that catch code-level failures of this criterion:
avoid-inline-spacing— Ensure that text spacing set through style attributes can be adjusted with custom stylesheets (details (opens in a new tab))
This criterion is included in: WCAG 2.2 AA Checker, WCAG 2.1 AA Checker, ADA Compliance Checker, EN 301 549 Checker.
How to Test It by Hand
Apply a text-spacing bookmarklet or browser extension that sets the WCAG 1.4.12 spacing values and check nothing is clipped or overlapping.
Common Failures
- A fixed-height container clips text once line height increases.
- Overlapping text appears in a card or button when letter spacing is increased.
Related Criteria in Distinguishable
WCAG 1.4.12 Questions
What does WCAG 1.4.12 require?
Content must remain readable and functional when a visitor overrides text spacing (line height, paragraph spacing, letter and word spacing) to the values in the success criterion.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.4.12 automatically?
Yes. AccessBell runs 1 automated rule that can catch failures of this criterion, including in our WCAG 2.2 AA Checker, WCAG 2.1 AA Checker, ADA Compliance Checker, EN 301 549 Checker.
What level is WCAG 1.4.12?
Level AA, added in WCAG 2.1. Level AA is required to meet WCAG AA, the level referenced by the ADA, Section 508 and most accessibility laws.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 1.4.12 Text Spacing (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.