WAS flashcards
WAS · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Social model of disability
- Disability results from barriers in society and environment, not from impairment itself. Removing barriers (ramps, captions, semantics) increases participation.
- POUR principles
- Four WCAG principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust. Every success criterion maps to one of these principles.
- WCAG conformance level AA
- The mid-level target requiring all Level A and AA success criteria. Most laws and policies, including Section 508, reference AA.
- Reflow success criterion
- WCAG 1.4.10 requires content to work at 320 CSS px width without two-dimensional scrolling, except for content needing two-dimensional layout.
- Non-text contrast
- WCAG 1.4.11 requires 3:1 contrast for UI component boundaries, states, and graphical objects needed to understand content.
- Target Size Minimum
- WCAG 2.5.8 (AA, WCAG 2.2) requires pointer targets of at least 24x24 CSS px, with exceptions for spacing, inline links, and essential cases.
- Dragging Movements criterion
- WCAG 2.5.7 (AA, 2.2) requires a single-pointer alternative for any function that uses dragging, unless dragging is essential.
- Redundant Entry criterion
- WCAG 3.3.7 (A, 2.2) requires that information previously entered in a process is auto-populated or available to select, not re-entered.
- Accessible Authentication Minimum
- WCAG 3.3.8 (AA, 2.2) forbids cognitive function tests for login unless an alternative or assistance exists; paste and password managers must work.
- Native element first
- Use built-in HTML elements like button, a, and input before ARIA. Native elements supply role, state, and keyboard behavior automatically.
- Decorative image alt text
- Decorative images use alt="" so screen readers skip them. Omitting the alt attribute entirely leaves the file name exposed.
- Label element association
- A label's for attribute must match the input's id to create an accessible name and clickable target.
- Table header scope
- th scope="col" or scope="row" associates headers with data cells in simple tables, letting screen readers announce the correct header.
- Page language attribute
- The html lang attribute declares the page language for screen readers and translation tools; WCAG 3.1.1 requires it.
- Skip link
- The first focusable element on a page that jumps to main content. It must be visible on focus and target a valid id.
- First rule of ARIA
- Do not use ARIA if a native HTML element or attribute already provides the required semantics and behavior.
- aria-hidden limitation
- aria-hidden="true" removes content from the accessibility tree but not from keyboard focus. Never apply it to focusable elements.
- Live region polite
- aria-live="polite" or role="status" queues announcements until the screen reader is idle, suitable for non-urgent status updates.
- Live region assertive
- aria-live="assertive" or role="alert" interrupts current speech. Reserve it for urgent errors and time-sensitive messages.
- Accessible name precedence
- Name computation order: aria-labelledby, then aria-label, then native labeling such as label or alt, then element contents.
- aria-expanded state
- Indicates whether a control such as a disclosure button or menu owns expanded or collapsed content. Values are true or false.
- Roving tabindex
- A composite widget technique where one item has tabindex="0" and others have tabindex="-1"; arrow keys move focus within the widget.
- Automated testing limits
- Tools like axe and Lighthouse catch only a portion of issues; alt-text quality, focus order, and reading order need manual review.
- Keyboard trap test
- Tab through the page and confirm focus never gets stuck. Overlays must close with Escape and return focus to the trigger.
- Screen reader browser pairs
- Common test pairs: NVDA with Firefox or Chrome, JAWS with Chrome, VoiceOver with Safari, TalkBack with Chrome.
- Accessibility tree inspection
- Browser DevTools show the computed role, name, and states of elements, verifying what assistive technology actually receives.
- Forced colors mode
- Windows High Contrast Mode strips colors and background images. Test borders, focus indicators, and icons using the forced-colors media query.
- Focus visible styling
- Use :focus-visible with a clear indicator instead of removing outlines. The indicator needs 3:1 contrast against adjacent colors.
- Color alone
- WCAG 1.4.1 forbids using color alone to convey meaning. Pair color with text, icons, patterns, or underlines.
- Relative font units
- rem and em units let text resize with user settings and browser zoom, supporting WCAG 1.4.4 Resize Text to 200 percent.
- VPAT and ACR
- A VPAT is the reporting template; the Accessibility Conformance Report is the completed document citing criteria, conformance levels, and remarks.
- Accessibility definition of done
- A team practice where a feature is not complete until accessibility criteria are met, tested, and documented in the backlog.