Location
Summary:
WCAG 2.4.8, "Location," is about helping users understand their location within a set of web pages. This AAA level criterion enhances the navigability of websites, especially for users with cognitive or navigational challenges, by providing clear indicators of where they are in a website's structure.
What:
This guideline requires that information about the user's location within a set of web pages is available. It's about making it easier for users to orient themselves, particularly in complex or extensive websites.
Why:
Users with cognitive disabilities, attention deficits, or those unfamiliar with a site can find it challenging to keep track of their location in a website. Clear location indicators aid in navigation, reducing confusion and improving the overall experience.
Examples and Scenarios:
- Breadcrumbs on E-commerce Sites: Display a breadcrumb trail showing the path from the home page to the current page.
- Highlighted Menu Items: In multi-level menus, highlight the current section or page.
- Progress Indicators: On multi-step forms or processes, show which step the user is on.
How to Comply:
- Websites: Implement features like breadcrumbs, highlighted navigation menus, or progress indicators. Ensure these features are consistently presented across the site.
- Mobile Apps: Utilize in-app indicators to show the current location within the app’s navigation structure.
- Software Applications: Provide clear, visible cues in the UI to indicate the user's current location within the application.
Exceptions:
- Simple or Linear Websites: Websites with a linear flow or minimal pages may not need extensive location indicators.
- Single-Page Applications (SPAs): In SPAs where content changes dynamically, traditional location indicators like breadcrumbs might not apply, requiring alternative methods to indicate location.