10 Most Common WCAG Failures and How to Fix Them

Introduction

Web accessibility failures are staggeringly common. The WebAIM Million study, which analyzes the top one million website homepages each year, consistently finds that over 95 percent of pages have detectable WCAG failures. The average page contains more than 50 distinct errors. Yet the overwhelming majority of these failures fall into a small number of categories that are straightforward to identify and fix.

This guide walks through the ten most common WCAG failures found on websites today, explains exactly why each one matters for people with disabilities, and provides concrete before-and-after code examples you can use to fix them. Whether you are a developer, designer, content editor, or site owner, addressing these ten issues will eliminate the bulk of accessibility barriers on your site and bring you significantly closer to WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance.

Each failure is mapped to the specific WCAG success criterion it violates, so you can trace the requirement back to the official standard. The fixes are presented as real HTML, CSS, and JavaScript snippets that you can adapt to your own codebase. If you want to see which of these issues exist on your own site right now, you can run a free scan with our WCAG checker and get a detailed report in seconds.

1. Missing Image Alt Text (WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) requires that all non-text content presented to the user has a text alternative that serves an equivalent purpose. For images, this means every <img> element must have an alt attribute that describes the content or function of the image. Decorative images that convey no information should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") so assistive technologies can skip them.

Why It Matters

Screen reader users rely entirely on alt text to understand images. When an image lacks an alt attribute, screen readers typically announce the file name instead, which produces meaningless output like "IMG_20240315_143022.jpg" or "banner-final-v3.png." For linked images, missing alt text means the screen reader cannot communicate the purpose of the link at all. This is the single most common WCAG failure, affecting over 54 percent of homepages according to WebAIM.

Bad Code

<!-- No alt attribute at all -->
<img src="/images/team-photo.jpg">

<!-- Alt attribute present but empty on an informative image -->
<img src="/images/quarterly-sales-chart.png" alt="">

<!-- Linked image with no alt text -->
<a href="/products">
  <img src="/images/new-arrivals.jpg">
</a>

Good Code

<!-- Descriptive alt text for informative image -->
<img src="/images/team-photo.jpg"
     alt="The AccessibilityDev team at the 2025 Web Summit conference">

<!-- Meaningful alt text for a chart -->
<img src="/images/quarterly-sales-chart.png"
     alt="Q3 2025 sales chart showing 23% growth over Q2">

<!-- Linked image with alt text describing the link destination -->
<a href="/products">
  <img src="/images/new-arrivals.jpg" alt="Browse new arrivals">
</a>

<!-- Decorative image correctly marked as decorative -->
<img src="/images/decorative-divider.svg" alt="" role="presentation">

Quick Fix Summary

Audit every <img> element on your site. Add a descriptive alt attribute to informative images. Use alt="" for purely decorative images. For linked images, the alt text should describe the link's destination or action, not just the image content.

2. Insufficient Color Contrast (WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA) requires that the visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against the background. Large text, defined as text that is at least 18 points (24px) or 14 points (approximately 18.66px) bold, needs a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1. This criterion does not apply to incidental text in images, logos, or text that is part of an inactive user interface component.

Why It Matters

Low contrast text is difficult or impossible to read for users with low vision, color blindness, or age-related vision changes. It also causes problems in less-than-ideal viewing conditions such as screen glare, low brightness settings, or small mobile screens. Approximately 300 million people worldwide have color vision deficiency, and nearly everyone will experience reduced visual acuity with age. Insufficient contrast is the second most common WCAG failure, appearing on over 81 percent of homepages.

Bad Code

/* Light gray text on white background — ratio ~2.5:1 (FAIL) */
.subtitle {
  color: #aaaaaa;
  background-color: #ffffff;
}

/* Placeholder text with poor contrast — ratio ~2.3:1 (FAIL) */
input::placeholder {
  color: #c0c0c0;
}

/* Brand color on light background — ratio ~2.8:1 (FAIL) */
.cta-link {
  color: #59a3ff;
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
}

Good Code

/* Dark gray text on white background — ratio ~9.7:1 (PASS) */
.subtitle {
  color: #595959;
  background-color: #ffffff;
}

/* Placeholder text with adequate contrast — ratio ~4.6:1 (PASS) */
input::placeholder {
  color: #767676;
}

/* Adjusted brand color for contrast — ratio ~4.5:1 (PASS) */
.cta-link {
  color: #0063cc;
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
}

Quick Fix Summary

Use a contrast checker tool to test all text-background color combinations on your site. Darken light text colors or lighten dark backgrounds until you reach at least a 4.5:1 ratio for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Pay special attention to placeholder text, disabled states, and text over images or gradients.

3. Missing Form Labels (WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships, 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) requires that information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation are programmatically determinable. Success Criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) requires that for all user interface components, the name and role can be programmatically determined. For form inputs, this means every input, select, and textarea must have a programmatically associated label, either through a <label> element with a matching for attribute, a wrapping <label> element, or an appropriate ARIA attribute.

Why It Matters

Without a programmatically associated label, screen readers cannot tell users what a form field is for. A screen reader might announce "edit text" or "combo box" with no indication of what information the user should enter. This makes forms completely unusable for blind users. Visual placeholder text alone is not sufficient because it disappears when the user starts typing and is not reliably announced by all screen readers. Missing form labels affect roughly 45 percent of homepages.

Bad Code

<!-- No label at all — screen reader says "edit text" -->
<input type="text" placeholder="Enter your email">

<!-- Visual label present but not associated programmatically -->
<span class="label">Password</span>
<input type="password" id="pwd">

<!-- Label and input IDs don't match -->
<label for="username">Username</label>
<input type="text" id="user-name">

Good Code

<!-- Explicit label association using for/id -->
<label for="email">Email address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" placeholder="[email protected]">

<!-- Implicit label using wrapper -->
<label>
  Password
  <input type="password">
</label>

<!-- Using aria-label when a visible label is not possible -->
<input type="search" aria-label="Search products"
       placeholder="Search products">

<!-- Using aria-labelledby for complex labeling -->
<span id="billing-label">Billing address</span>
<span id="street-label">Street</span>
<input type="text" aria-labelledby="billing-label street-label">

Quick Fix Summary

Every form input must have a programmatic label. The preferred method is a <label> element with a for attribute matching the input's id. Use aria-label or aria-labelledby only when a visible label is not feasible. Never rely on placeholder text as the sole label.

4. Empty Links and Buttons (WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose, 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) requires that the purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined context. Success Criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) requires that all user interface components have an accessible name. Links and buttons that contain no text, no alt text on child images, and no ARIA label are invisible to screen reader users.

Why It Matters

When a link or button has no accessible name, screen readers announce it as "link" or "button" with no additional information. For icon-only buttons, a screen reader user hears just "button" with no way to know whether it opens a menu, submits a form, or deletes an item. Empty links are especially problematic when screen reader users pull up a list of all links on the page to navigate quickly. A list full of links that all say "link" provides zero navigational value.

Bad Code

<!-- Icon link with no accessible name -->
<a href="/cart">
  <i class="icon-shopping-cart"></i>
</a>

<!-- Button with only an icon and no label -->
<button onclick="toggleMenu()">
  <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24">
    <path d="M3 18h18v-2H3v2zm0-5h18v-2H3v2zm0-7v2h18V6H3z"/>
  </svg>
</button>

<!-- Link wrapping an image with no alt text -->
<a href="/profile">
  <img src="/icons/user.svg">
</a>

Good Code

<!-- Icon link with aria-label -->
<a href="/cart" aria-label="Shopping cart (3 items)">
  <i class="icon-shopping-cart" aria-hidden="true"></i>
</a>

<!-- Button with aria-label for icon-only button -->
<button onclick="toggleMenu()" aria-label="Open navigation menu">
  <svg aria-hidden="true" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
    <path d="M3 18h18v-2H3v2zm0-5h18v-2H3v2zm0-7v2h18V6H3z"/>
  </svg>
</button>

<!-- Visually hidden text approach (alternative to aria-label) -->
<a href="/profile">
  <img src="/icons/user.svg" alt="">
  <span class="sr-only">Your profile</span>
</a>

<!-- Link with visible text — always the best approach -->
<a href="/profile">Your Profile</a>

Quick Fix Summary

Every link and button must have an accessible name. For text-based controls, visible text is sufficient. For icon-only controls, add an aria-label attribute, a visually hidden text span, or an alt attribute on any child image. Mark decorative icons with aria-hidden="true" to prevent duplicated announcements.

5. Missing Document Language (WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A) requires that the default human language of each web page can be programmatically determined. In HTML, this is accomplished by setting the lang attribute on the <html> element using a valid BCP 47 language tag, such as en for English, es for Spanish, or fr for French.

Why It Matters

Screen readers use the language attribute to select the correct pronunciation engine and speech synthesizer. Without it, a screen reader configured for English might attempt to read French content using English pronunciation rules, producing garbled and unintelligible output. The language attribute also affects how browsers render quotation marks, hyphenation, and other language-specific typography. Search engines use it for language detection and serving content to the appropriate audience. Missing document language appears on roughly 17 percent of homepages.

Bad Code

<!-- No lang attribute — screen reader guesses the language -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My Website</title>
  </head>
  <body>...</body>
</html>

<!-- Invalid language code -->
<html lang="english">

<!-- Empty lang attribute -->
<html lang="">

Good Code

<!-- Correct: valid BCP 47 language tag -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>My Website</title>
  </head>
  <body>...</body>
</html>

<!-- For regional variants -->
<html lang="en-US">

<!-- For multilingual pages, set page language and mark exceptions -->
<html lang="en">
  <body>
    <p>Welcome to our website.</p>
    <p lang="es">Bienvenido a nuestro sitio web.</p>
  </body>
</html>

Quick Fix Summary

Add a valid lang attribute to the <html> element on every page. Use standard BCP 47 language codes. For content sections in a different language than the page default, add a lang attribute to the container element. This is a one-line fix that takes seconds and has an immediate positive impact.

6. Empty Heading Tags (WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) requires that information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined. Headings are a primary structural mechanism on the web. When heading elements (<h1> through <h6>) are present in the markup, they must contain text content that describes the section they introduce. An empty heading provides structure without meaning, which violates this requirement.

Why It Matters

Screen reader users navigate pages by jumping between headings to scan the page structure, much like sighted users scan visual headings. When a heading is empty, the screen reader announces "heading level 2" (or whatever the level) with no descriptive text, providing no information about what section follows. This disrupts the navigation flow and makes the page structure incomprehensible. Empty headings often result from CMS templates that generate heading tags for sections that have no content, or from developers using heading elements purely for visual styling.

Bad Code

<!-- Completely empty heading -->
<h2></h2>

<!-- Heading with only whitespace -->
<h3>   </h3>

<!-- Heading used for spacing/styling only -->
<h2 class="section-spacer"></h2>

<!-- Heading with only a non-text element and no alt/label -->
<h2><img src="/icons/section-icon.svg"></h2>

Good Code

<!-- Heading with descriptive text -->
<h2>Customer Testimonials</h2>

<!-- Heading with icon and text -->
<h2>
  <img src="/icons/testimonial.svg" alt="" aria-hidden="true">
  Customer Testimonials
</h2>

<!-- If you need visual spacing, use CSS instead of empty headings -->
<div class="section-spacer" style="margin-top: 3rem;"></div>

<!-- If a section is conditionally empty, hide the heading too -->
<!-- Instead of leaving an empty <h2>, conditionally render it -->
{testimonials.length > 0 && <h2>Customer Testimonials</h2>}

Quick Fix Summary

Remove or populate all empty heading elements. If a heading was being used purely for visual spacing, replace it with CSS margins or padding. If a CMS generates empty headings for sections without content, conditionally hide the heading when the section is empty. Every heading in the DOM should contain meaningful text that describes the content that follows.

7. Missing Page Title (WCAG 2.4.2 Page Titled)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 2.4.2 Page Titled (Level A) requires that web pages have titles that describe their topic or purpose. The title is set using the <title> element in the document's <head>. The title should be unique, descriptive, and concise. It should identify both the specific page content and the website it belongs to.

Why It Matters

The page title is the first piece of information announced by screen readers when a page loads. It is what appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, search engine results, and social media shares. For users navigating with multiple tabs open, a descriptive title is essential for telling pages apart. A missing, duplicate, or generic title like "Untitled" or "Home" provides no useful orientation. For screen reader users especially, the title serves as a critical landmark that confirms they have arrived at the intended page.

Bad Code

<!-- Missing title element entirely -->
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
</head>

<!-- Empty title -->
<head>
  <title></title>
</head>

<!-- Generic, non-descriptive title -->
<head>
  <title>Page</title>
</head>

<!-- Same title on every page -->
<head>
  <title>My Company</title>  <!-- Used on ALL pages -->
</head>

Good Code

<!-- Homepage: descriptive and branded -->
<head>
  <title>AccessibilityChecker — Free WCAG 2.2 Compliance Scanner</title>
</head>

<!-- Subpage: specific content first, then site name -->
<head>
  <title>Pricing Plans — AccessibilityChecker</title>
</head>

<!-- Blog post: article title first -->
<head>
  <title>10 Common WCAG Failures and How to Fix Them — AccessibilityChecker</title>
</head>

<!-- Search results: include the query -->
<head>
  <title>Search Results for "color contrast" — AccessibilityChecker</title>
</head>

Quick Fix Summary

Every page must have a unique, descriptive <title> element. Follow the pattern of "Page-Specific Content — Site Name" so users see the most relevant information first. In single-page applications and frameworks like Next.js or React, ensure the title updates on every route change.

8. Keyboard Inaccessible Elements (WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A) requires that all functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes. This means every interactive element, including links, buttons, form fields, dropdowns, modals, tabs, accordions, and custom widgets, must be reachable and operable using only the keyboard. Users must be able to reach elements with Tab, activate them with Enter or Space, and navigate within composite widgets using arrow keys.

Why It Matters

Keyboard accessibility is foundational. Users who cannot use a mouse include people with motor disabilities who use keyboard alternatives (switch devices, sip-and-puff systems, head trackers), people with visual disabilities who rely on screen readers (which use the keyboard interface), and power users who prefer keyboard navigation for efficiency. If an interactive element cannot receive keyboard focus or be activated with the keyboard, it is completely inaccessible to these users. This is one of the most impactful failures because it can block access to core functionality like navigation, forms, and purchasing flows.

Bad Code

<!-- Div used as a button — not keyboard focusable or activatable -->
<div class="btn" onclick="submitForm()">Submit</div>

<!-- Span used as a link — cannot be tabbed to -->
<span class="link" onclick="navigate('/about')">About Us</span>

<!-- Click handler only — no keyboard equivalent -->
<div class="card" onclick="openDetails(42)">
  <h3>Product Name</h3>
  <p>Click to view details</p>
</div>

<!-- Custom dropdown that only works with mouse -->
<div class="dropdown" onmouseover="showMenu()" onmouseout="hideMenu()">
  <span>Menu</span>
  <ul class="dropdown-menu">...</ul>
</div>

Good Code

<!-- Use native <button> — keyboard accessible by default -->
<button type="submit" class="btn">Submit</button>

<!-- Use native <a> — keyboard accessible by default -->
<a href="/about" class="link">About Us</a>

<!-- If you must use a div, add role, tabindex, and key handler -->
<div class="card" role="button" tabindex="0"
     onclick="openDetails(42)"
     onkeydown="if(event.key==='Enter'||event.key===' '){event.preventDefault();openDetails(42)}">
  <h3>Product Name</h3>
  <p>View product details</p>
</div>

<!-- Keyboard-accessible dropdown -->
<div class="dropdown">
  <button aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true"
          onclick="toggleMenu()" onkeydown="handleMenuKeys(event)">
    Menu
  </button>
  <ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
    <li role="menuitem"><a href="/home">Home</a></li>
    <li role="menuitem"><a href="/about">About</a></li>
  </ul>
</div>

Quick Fix Summary

Use native HTML elements (<button>, <a>, <input>) whenever possible because they come with built-in keyboard support. If you must use non-semantic elements, add tabindex="0", the appropriate role, and keyboard event handlers for Enter and Space. Test every interactive element by navigating your site with only the keyboard.

9. Missing Skip Navigation (WCAG 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A) requires that a mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple web pages. The most common and effective implementation is a "skip to main content" link that appears as the first focusable element on the page. When activated, it moves keyboard focus past the repeated navigation to the beginning of the main content area. Using ARIA landmark roles (<main>, <nav>, <header>) also helps satisfy this criterion because screen readers allow users to jump directly to landmarks.

Why It Matters

Sighted mouse users can instantly ignore the navigation and scroll to the content they want. Keyboard users, however, must Tab through every single link in the navigation, header, and sidebar before reaching the main content. On a site with 30 navigation links, that means pressing Tab 30 times on every single page load just to reach the content. This is tedious and time-consuming for keyboard users and screen reader users alike. A skip link eliminates this barrier with a single keystroke.

Bad Code

<!-- No skip link and no landmark structure -->
<body>
  <div class="header">
    <div class="logo">Site Name</div>
    <div class="nav">
      <a href="/">Home</a>
      <a href="/about">About</a>
      <a href="/services">Services</a>
      <a href="/blog">Blog</a>
      <a href="/contact">Contact</a>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="content">
    <h1>Page Heading</h1>
    <p>Main content starts here...</p>
  </div>
</body>

Good Code

<!-- Skip link as first focusable element + proper landmarks -->
<body>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">
    Skip to main content
  </a>
  <header>
    <div class="logo">Site Name</div>
    <nav aria-label="Main navigation">
      <a href="/">Home</a>
      <a href="/about">About</a>
      <a href="/services">Services</a>
      <a href="/blog">Blog</a>
      <a href="/contact">Contact</a>
    </nav>
  </header>
  <main id="main-content">
    <h1>Page Heading</h1>
    <p>Main content starts here...</p>
  </main>
</body>

<!-- CSS for visually hidden skip link that appears on focus -->
<style>
.skip-link {
  position: absolute;
  left: -9999px;
  top: auto;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.skip-link:focus {
  position: fixed;
  top: 10px;
  left: 10px;
  width: auto;
  height: auto;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #000;
  color: #fff;
  z-index: 9999;
  font-size: 1rem;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-radius: 4px;
}
</style>

Quick Fix Summary

Add a skip link as the first focusable element in your page that targets the <main> content area. The link should be visually hidden by default and become visible when it receives keyboard focus. Also ensure your page uses semantic HTML landmarks (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <footer>) to provide additional navigation bypasses for screen reader users.

10. Improper ARIA Usage (WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)

What WCAG Requires

Success Criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) requires that for all user interface components, the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies. ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes exist to fill gaps where native HTML semantics are insufficient. However, incorrect ARIA usage can make accessibility worse, not better.

Why It Matters

The first rule of ARIA is: do not use ARIA if you can use a native HTML element with the same semantics. When ARIA is used incorrectly, it creates a conflicting or misleading experience for screen reader users. An element with role="button" that does not respond to keyboard events tells the screen reader it is a button while behaving nothing like one. An aria-expanded attribute that never changes state gives the user false information about a menu's status. Misusing ARIA is often worse than having no ARIA at all because it actively misleads assistive technology users.

Bad Code

<!-- role="button" on a div without keyboard support -->
<div role="button" onclick="doSomething()">Click Me</div>

<!-- aria-expanded never toggled — always says "collapsed" -->
<button aria-expanded="false" onclick="toggleDropdown()">
  Menu
</button>
<!-- JS toggles visibility but never updates aria-expanded -->

<!-- Redundant ARIA on native elements -->
<button role="button">Submit</button>
<a href="/about" role="link">About</a>
<nav role="navigation">...</nav>

<!-- Invalid ARIA attribute values -->
<div aria-live="assertively">Status updates here</div>
<!-- "assertively" is not valid; should be "assertive" -->

<!-- ARIA label that conflicts with visible text -->
<button aria-label="Close">Cancel</button>
<!-- Screen reader says "Close", sighted user sees "Cancel" -->

Good Code

<!-- Use native <button> instead of role="button" -->
<button onclick="doSomething()">Click Me</button>

<!-- Keep aria-expanded in sync with actual state -->
<button aria-expanded="false" id="menu-toggle"
        onclick="toggleDropdown()">Menu</button>
<script>
function toggleDropdown() {
  const btn = document.getElementById('menu-toggle');
  const menu = document.getElementById('dropdown-menu');
  const isOpen = btn.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';
  btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', !isOpen);
  menu.hidden = isOpen;
}
</script>

<!-- Don't add redundant roles to native elements -->
<button>Submit</button>
<a href="/about">About</a>
<nav aria-label="Main">...</nav>

<!-- Use correct ARIA values -->
<div aria-live="assertive">Status updates here</div>

<!-- Match aria-label with visible text using aria-labelledby -->
<button id="cancel-btn" aria-labelledby="cancel-btn">Cancel</button>
<!-- Or simply let the text content serve as the label -->
<button>Cancel</button>

Quick Fix Summary

Prefer native HTML elements over ARIA roles whenever possible. When you do use ARIA, ensure that role attributes have corresponding keyboard behavior, aria-expanded and aria-selected are toggled in JavaScript to match actual state, ARIA attribute values are valid (check the WAI-ARIA specification), and aria-label text does not conflict with visible text content.

Conclusion

These ten issues account for the vast majority of automatically detectable WCAG failures across the web. The good news is that every single one of them has a straightforward fix. Adding alt text, improving color contrast, associating form labels, providing accessible names for links and buttons, setting the document language, populating headings, writing descriptive page titles, using native interactive elements, adding skip navigation, and using ARIA correctly are not complex tasks. They are fundamental web development practices that should be part of every project from the start.

The key to sustainable accessibility is not treating it as a one-time audit but embedding it into your development workflow. Use automated scanning tools during development to catch these common failures early. Train your team to write accessible HTML from the beginning rather than retrofitting it later. Test with a keyboard regularly. Listen to your pages with a screen reader occasionally. These habits will prevent the majority of accessibility issues from ever reaching production.

Ready to find out which of these issues exist on your website? Run a free WCAG accessibility scan now and get a detailed report with specific issues, severity levels, and actionable fix recommendations. It takes less than 30 seconds and requires no account or installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common WCAG failures found on websites?

According to the WebAIM Million report, the most common WCAG failures are insufficient color contrast, missing image alt text, missing form input labels, empty links, missing document language, and empty buttons. These six categories alone account for the vast majority of automatically detectable accessibility errors. Our tool scans for all of these and many more, providing a comprehensive picture of your site's WCAG conformance.

Can I fix all WCAG issues with automated tools?

Automated tools can detect and help you fix approximately 30 to 40 percent of WCAG issues, particularly the common ones covered in this guide: missing alt text, color contrast violations, missing form labels, empty links and buttons, missing document language, and similar technical issues. However, many WCAG criteria require human judgment, such as whether alt text is truly meaningful, whether content is logically structured, or whether custom interactive widgets are genuinely usable with assistive technologies. A complete accessibility strategy combines automated scanning, manual expert review, and user testing with people with disabilities.

How do I check my website for color contrast issues?

You can use our free accessibility scanner to detect color contrast failures across an entire page in seconds. For manual checking, browser DevTools in Chrome and Firefox display contrast ratios when inspecting text elements. Dedicated tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker let you test specific color combinations. WCAG 2.2 Level AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold and above).

What is the fastest way to improve my website's accessibility score?

Start by running an automated scan to identify your most common failures, then fix them in bulk. The highest-impact quick wins are: add meaningful alt text to all images, fix color contrast violations by darkening light text or lightening dark backgrounds, add labels to all form inputs, give every link and button descriptive text, set the lang attribute on your HTML element, and ensure every page has a unique descriptive title. These fixes target the most prevalent issues and can often be completed in a few hours, dramatically improving your automated accessibility score.

Do missing form labels really affect users?

Yes, missing form labels have a direct and significant impact on users who rely on assistive technology. When a form input lacks a programmatically associated label, screen readers may announce only "edit text" or "text input" with no context about what information the field expects. This makes it impossible for blind and low-vision users to complete forms correctly. Beyond screen readers, properly associated labels improve usability for all users because clicking the label text focuses the corresponding input, creating a larger click target that is especially beneficial on touch devices. You can explore more accessibility best practices on our blog.