WCAG
Also known as: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
WCAG is the international rulebook for making websites and apps accessible. Almost every accessibility law in the world points to it as the standard to meet.
In plain terms
WCAG (say it "wuh-kag") is a set of testable checkpoints published by the W3C. The current version is 2.2. It's organised around four ideas — content should be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust — and each checkpoint has a level: A, AA or AAA. Most laws require Level AA.
Why it matters
When a regulator, client or lawsuit asks "is your site accessible?", what they really mean is "does it meet WCAG 2.2 AA?". It's the yardstick behind the ADA, the EAA, Section 508, SEBI and RBI circulars, and India's RPwD Act.
A rule like "text needs a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1" (WCAG 1.4.3) is one of 55-odd checkpoints you have to pass for AA conformance.
Related terms
Want your website checked against every WCAG requirement, not just the jargon? We run IAAP-certified audits with plain-English reports.
Request an Audit