No Timing
Summary:
WCAG 2.2.3, "No Timing," is designed to ensure that all users have adequate time to read and use web content without the pressure of time constraints. This guideline is particularly critical for users who need more time due to disabilities like dyslexia, visual impairments, or motor impairments.
What:
This criterion stipulates that content should be accessible without any time limits. This means that users are not required to respond within a specified time frame, allowing them to interact with content at their own pace.
Why:
Time limits can be a significant barrier, causing stress and hindering the ability of many users to fully access and understand information. By removing time constraints, digital content becomes more inclusive, allowing users with various needs and abilities to engage with it comfortably and effectively.
Examples and Scenarios:
- Reading Content: Ensure that users have unlimited time to read articles, information pages, or digital books, with no automatic timeouts.
- Interactive Tasks: Allow users to complete interactive tasks, such as games or puzzles, at their own pace without being rushed by a timer.
- Transactional Processes: Provide ample time for users to complete online transactions or forms, such as registrations or checkouts, without automatic session timeouts.
How to Comply:
- Websites: Remove or avoid implementing features that impose a time limit for consuming or interacting with content. Where session timeouts are necessary for security, provide ample warning and an easy way to extend the session.
- Mobile Apps: Design app functionalities, especially informational and interactive elements, without time constraints.
- Software Applications: Ensure that the application does not enforce time limits for user interaction with content or functionalities.
Exceptions:
- Real-Time Exceptions: If the timing is an essential part of the function (such as real-time auctions or competitive gaming), this guideline may not apply.
- Extended Time Available: In cases where extending the time allowed would not hinder the purpose of the content, providing a mechanism to extend the time limit can be an alternative.