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WCAG 2.4.6 Headings and Labels

Headings and form labels must describe their topic or purpose clearly, so visitors scanning the page (visually or with a screen reader) can understand the structure.

2.4.6 Level AA Added in WCAG 2.0 Needs manual review

Anton StewartAuthor
Reviewed against the W3C Understanding document
Illustration: a layers icon, with WCAG 2.4.6 and Headings and Labels
Table of contents

What WCAG 2.4.6 Requires

Headings and form labels must describe their topic or purpose clearly, so visitors scanning the page (visually or with a screen reader) can understand the structure.

How to Test It by Hand

Read only the headings and form labels on the page, out of context, and confirm each one is descriptive rather than generic.

Common Failures

  • Multiple sections are all headed "Learn More" with no distinguishing detail.
  • A form field is labeled just "Input" instead of what it collects.

Testing WCAG 2.4.6 With AccessBell

This criterion depends on meaning or context, so it needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it is not missed.

Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WCAG 2.4.6 require?

Headings and form labels must describe their topic or purpose clearly, so visitors scanning the page (visually or with a screen reader) can understand the structure.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 2.4.6 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 2.4.6?

Level AA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AA is the level referenced by the ADA, Section 508 and most accessibility laws.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

About the Author

Anton StewartAuthor

Contributor, AccessBell

Anton Stewart writes and reviews accessibility guides for the AccessBell blog, checked against the W3C standards and other primary sources.

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