WCAG 2.1 Section 5.2.3: Complete Processes
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What Does "Complete Processes" Mean in WCAG?
Section 5.2.3 of WCAG 2.1 states that when a web page is part of a series of pages presenting a process (a sequence of steps needed to complete an activity), all pages in the process must conform at the specified level. If any page in the process does not conform, then none of the pages in the process can be considered conformant at that level.
A "process" is a series of user actions where each action is required to complete an activity. Examples include:
- Online shopping checkout (cart → shipping → payment → confirmation)
- Account registration (form → verification → confirmation)
- Multi-step surveys or applications
Key Points from the Specification
- All-or-nothing: Conformance is not possible at a particular level if any page in the process does not conform at that level or better.
- User experience: Every step in a process must be accessible for the process to be considered accessible.
- No skipping: You cannot claim conformance for just the accessible steps in a process.
Why Is This Important?
- Prevents barriers: Users with disabilities must be able to complete all steps in a process, not just some.
- Legal and ethical compliance: Accessibility must be maintained throughout the entire user journey.
- Consistent experience: Ensures users are not blocked or excluded at any step.
Examples
- E-commerce: If a checkout process has four pages and one is not accessible, the entire checkout process fails WCAG conformance.
- Registration: If a multi-step sign-up form is accessible except for the CAPTCHA page, the process does not conform.
References & Further Reading
Accessibility is a journey—every step in a process must be accessible for everyone.