Level A, AA, AAA – WTF? Making Sense of Accessibility Standards

Have you ever heard of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and felt like you just entered an alien conference? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Accessibility standards can feel like a secret code. Still, they’re the key to making your website usable for everyone — including the millions of people with disabilities who interact with the web daily.

So, let’s break it down: WCAG 2.1 has three levels: A, AA, and AAA. But what do they mean, and why should you care?

Level A – The Needed Minimum

Think of Level A as the lowest bar possible. If your site meets Level A, it means that at least some users with disabilities can access your content — but just barely.

What A contains?

• Text alternatives for non-text content – every image, icon, button, and multimedia must have a text alternative for screen readers.
• Time-based media – audio and video must have alternatives like transcripts or descriptions.
• Captions – prerecorded media (like videos) should include captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Sensory characteristics – instructions should not rely solely on color, shape, size, or sound (e.g., “Click the green button” isn’t enough).
• Use of color – important information must not be conveyed by color alone. For example, error messages should include text, not just a red highlight.
• Audio control – auto-playing audio longer than 3 seconds must have a way to stop or adjust the volume.
• No keyboard trap – users should be able to navigate only with a keyboard without getting stuck anywhere.
• Character key shortcuts – if your site has single-key shortcuts, users must be able to turn them off or modify them.
• Timing adjustable – if there’s a time limit on completing an action (like a form), users must have a way to extend or remove it.
• Pause, Stop, Hide – any moving, blinking, scrolling content must have an option to pause or stop.
• Bypass blocks – users should be able to skip repeated content (like navigation menus) and go directly to the main content.
• Focus order – interactive elements (buttons, links, forms) should be in a logical keyboard navigation order.
• Error identification – when users make a mistake (e.g., filling out a form), they must be told what went wrong and how to fix it.
• Labels or instructions – forms must have clear labels, instructions, or placeholders to guide users.

If your site doesn’t even meet Level A, it’s like having a restaurant with stairs at the entrance and no ramp. Some people might make it inside, but many won’t.

Level AA – The Standard

Most businesses aim at Level AA because it’s the standard for legal compliance (and common decency). If you want your site to be accessible to a wide range of users — including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities — this is the level to shoot for.

What Level AA includes?

• Captions (Live) – live-streamed videos must include real-time captions.
• Audio Description (Prerecorded) – videos should include audio descriptions for visually impaired users.
• Orientation – websites must support portrait and landscape modes, regardless of device settings.
• Identify Input Purpose – forms must help autocomplete fields (e.g., browsers should recognize name, email, and payment details).
• Contrast (Minimum) – text and background must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for readability.
• Resize Text – users should be able to zoom in up to 200% without breaking the layout.
• Images of Text – text should be actual, not images (unless necessary, like logos).
• Reflow – content should adapt to different screen sizes without forcing users to scroll in multiple directions.
• Non-text Contrast – icons, buttons, and graphical elements must stand out clearly against their backgrounds.
• Text Spacing – users should be able to adjust the spacing between letters, words, and lines without breaking the content.
• Content on Hover or Focus – tooltips and pop-ups must remain visible and accessible when hovered over or focused.
• Headings and Labels – proper headings and labels should describe the purpose of sections and elements.
• Focus Visible – keyboard users must see a clear focus indicator when tabbing through a page.
• Target Size (Minimum) – clickable elements (buttons, links) must have a minimum size of 44x44px or provide enough spacing.
• Error Suggestion – when users make a mistake (e.g., incorrect password), they should receive clear error suggestions on how to fix it.
• Status Messages – important status updates (e.g., “Item added to cart”) should be announced to assistive technologies without forcing a full page reload.

Most websites should be at Level AA. Many countries require it by law (think ADA in the US, EN 301 549 in the EU). Thus, if your website isn’t at least AA-compliant, you’re missing out on customers and possibly opening yourself up to lawsuits.

What countries require AA?

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. European Union
4. Israel
5. Norway
6. United Kingdom

Level AAA – The Gold Standard (a.k.a. ‘Welcome to the Accessibility Olympics!’)

Level AAA is the ultimate in accessibility. But here’s the catch: it’s hard to achieve across an entire website. While most businesses don’t need to meet AAA, implementing some of its guidelines can make your site even more inclusive.

What Level AAA includes?

• Even higher contrast ratios – text must have at least a 7:1 contrast ratio against the background (compared to 4.5:1 in AA).
• Extended audio descriptions – pre-recorded videos should include detailed audio descriptions of what’s happening on-screen.
• Sign language interpretation – critical content should have a sign language translation (e.g., in a video overlay).
• Full control over text spacing and presentation – users should be able to adjust line height, spacing, letter spacing, and word spacing without losing functionality.
• No time limits – if possible, users should never be forced to act within a time constraint.
• No interruptions – users should have full control over pop-ups, notifications, and alerts.
• All navigation should be highly predictable – pages must follow a logical and intuitive structure.
• Alternative authentication methods – users should be able to log in without needing to remember passwords(e.g., biometric login, security keys).
• Content customization – users should be able to adjust content display (e.g., change colors, remove animations) without losing meaning or functionality.
• Live audio descriptions for media – if a video is live-streamed, it should have a live narrator describing visual elements.
• Alternative text for complex images and charts – diagrams and infographics should have detailed textual descriptions.
• Minimized background noise – if there is background sound in audio content, it must be removable or at least reduced to very low levels.
• Reading level consideration – content should be written simply, or an easy-to-read summary should be provided.

This level is usually reserved for government sites, healthcare platforms, and organizations that want to go above and beyond. However, implementing some AAA features on high-priority content (like sign language for customer service or high-contrast modes) can be a great step forward.

Final Thoughts: Where Should You Start?

If your site isn’t accessible yet, start with Level A and work towards AA. If you’re already AA-compliant and want to go the extra mile, we can help implement AAA elements where they matter most.

💡 The bottom line? Accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about creating a better experience for everyone. More accessibility = a bigger audience, better SEO, fewer legal risks, and a more ethical web.

🔍 Not sure where your site stands? Let’s chat. Dreamdev team willl audit your site and get you on the path to accessibility without the headache.

👉 The first part about the importance of WCAG is available here.