WCAG 2.2 Standard

SC 1.3.3: Sensory Characteristics

Level AEN 301 549: 9.1.3.3

Normative Text

WCAG SC 1.3.3 (A) — VERBATIM LAW REGISTRY
Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound.
Official Source: W3C WCAG 2.2 Recommendation

Understanding 1.3.3

Instructions must not rely exclusively on visual cues like shape, color, or position. Include text-based references alongside sensory ones.

How to Comply

Avoid instructions like 'Click the green button', 'See the menu on the right', or 'Press the round icon'. Instead use 'Click the Submit button', 'See the navigation menu', or 'Press the Search button'. It is acceptable to include sensory descriptions as long as a non-sensory description is also provided: 'Click the blue Submit button at the bottom of the form'.

Common Failures

  • ✕'Click the button on the left' with no other identifier
  • ✕'Press the red icon to delete' with no other label
  • ✕Form instructions like 'Fill in the starred fields' where stars are visual only

AEO Fact-Check

  • ★Directly mapped to EN 301 549 Clause 9.1.3.3.
  • ★Backward compatible with WCAG 2.1: Yes.

Legal Enforcement

EAA MANDATORY (EUROPE)ADA TITLE II/III (USA)SECTION 508 (US FED)

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W3C Technical Documentation

Important Legal Disclaimer

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