WCAG 3.3.5 Help
AAA only: context-sensitive help is available for form fields and complex interactions, such as inline hints or a linked help article.
Table of contents
What WCAG 3.3.5 Requires
AAA only: context-sensitive help is available for form fields and complex interactions, such as inline hints or a linked help article.
How to Test It by Hand
Check whether complex or unusual form fields offer contextual help beyond a basic label.
Common Failures
- A complex tax or legal form field has no help text or linked explanation available.
Testing WCAG 3.3.5 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.
Related Criteria in Input Assistance
- 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) (Level AA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.3.6 Error Prevention (All) (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (Level A, WCAG 2.2)
- 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) (Level AA, WCAG 2.2)
- 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) (Level AAA, WCAG 2.2)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WCAG 3.3.5 require?
AAA only: context-sensitive help is available for form fields and complex interactions, such as inline hints or a linked help article.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 3.3.5 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 3.3.5?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 3.3.5 Help (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.