DECODING WCAG 2.1

Understanding the differences between WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 and its implication

Approximately 17% of the world’s population is visually challenged, 2.6% has an intellectual disability, and 1% require a wheelchair for mobility. Plus, the world’s aging population of 80 years and over will nearly triple from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million by 2050. Considering the growing importance of web accessibility vis-à-vis the increasing population with varying degrees of disabilities, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) created Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to provide an actionable framework. The first version was published almost two decades ago. A revised and enhanced version (2.0) was published in 2008.

WCAG 2.0 was the gold standard and served as a foundation for international accessibility laws. However, since its release, rapid advances in digital and smart technologies have reshaped our world in an unprecedented manner, transforming the way we communicate and access information. The older version needed an upgrade to accommodate the new and evolved accessibility requirements. As a result, WCAG 2.1 was published as an extension or advanced version of WCAG 2.0. With the addition of new success criteria, the guideline accommodates various accessibility dynamics and covers a wide range of barriers and web technologies to maximize accessibility.

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The WCAG 2.1 guidelines

The Difference Between WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1

How to Conform with WCAG 2.1 Standards and much more