Error Prevention (All)
Summary:
WCAG 3.3.6, "Error Prevention (All)," is a comprehensive guideline aiming to minimize errors in all user input areas of a website or application. This AAA-level criterion is especially crucial for users with cognitive disabilities, visual impairments, or those unfamiliar with digital interfaces, ensuring they can interact confidently without fear of making irreversible mistakes.
What:
The guideline requires mechanisms for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before final submission. It extends the concept of error prevention to all web content, not just legal, financial, or data-heavy transactions.
Why:
Mistakes in any form of data input can lead to confusion, frustration, or unintended consequences. Providing users with tools to prevent errors enhances the overall accessibility and user-friendliness of digital content.
Examples and Scenarios:
- All Types of Online Forms: Offering a review page before users submit any form, allowing them to check and correct entries.
- Interactive Tools: Enabling users to preview changes or actions, like updating profile information or settings, before they are finalized.
- Educational Platforms: Allowing students to review and edit answers in an online quiz before submission.
How to Comply:
- Websites: Implement review and confirmation steps for all types of online forms and data entry interfaces.
- Mobile Apps: Ensure that users can review and modify their inputs before finalizing actions within the app.
- Software Applications: Incorporate mechanisms that allow users to confirm and correct their inputs across various functionalities.
Exceptions:
- Real-time or Dynamic Activities: Activities like live chats or instant messaging, where the nature of the interaction doesn’t allow for reviewing and editing before submission.
- Simplified Interfaces: In cases where the interface is designed for simplicity and directness, such as a simple poll or survey.