Glossary
Common accessibility terms.
Accessibility Anchor link
The measure of a web page's usability by persons with one or more disabilities.
Alternative text Anchor link
Short text primarily used by screen-reading software to describe images — usually 125 characters or less. Also known as alt text.
Assistive technologies Anchor link
Technology designed so people with disabilities have greater functional capabilities with computer-based systems. This could be software or hardware and often benefits a broader range of computer users.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Anchor link
A United States civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
Audio browsers Anchor link
Web browsers that provide a text-to-speech capability for the blind and visually impaired.
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Anchor link
A WAI Guide to support authoring interfaces for both ensuring that people with disabilities can use them, and that they support authors in producing more accessible content.
Barrier Anchor link
Includes anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.
Braille terminal Anchor link
Machines that convert text on a screen to braille by raising bumps through holes on a flat surface.
Captioning Anchor link
The art of adding captions to a television program or movie.
Captions Anchor link
A textual representation of sound. This is usually associated with videos, to display real time textual equivalent of speech. Sometimes this moves beyond speech to include other sounds relevant to the video.
Content (vs. presentation) Anchor link
The separation of concerns design principle as applied to the authoring and presentation of content. The two should be independent to see that the two are distinct and can be managed independently.
Content management system (CMS) Anchor link
CMS is a software application used to oversee the operation of web information. Common CMS applications include software like WordPress and Drupal.
Contrast Anchor link
Contrast is the perceived difference between two adjacent colours. Two colours from different segments of the colour wheel are contrasting colours. For example, red is from the warm half of the colour wheel and blue is from the cool half.
Cascading style sheets (CSS) Anchor link
Styling for HTML.
Disability Anchor link
A limitation in an ability.
Discoverability Anchor link
The ability of any feature to be found in the context in which it is needed.
Document object model (DOM) Anchor link
The Document Object Model is a representation of the structure of a web document. This provides a means for scripts such as JavaScript to manipulate the content and layout of a page.
European Harmonized Accessibility Standards (EN 301 549) Anchor link
This is evolving to become the global standard for government policy. This is an evolving standard that roughly follows and extends the WCAG Guidelines.
False positives Anchor link
An error in data reporting in which a test result improperly indicates the presence of a condition.
Graceful degradation Anchor link
When a site utilizes new technology and, if disabled, the content maintains effectiveness for the user.
Hover state and focus state Anchor link
In CSS, a hover state is when the user moves their mouse over an element such as a button or menu item, whereas the focus state is when a user focuses on an element using keyboard controls (the Tab key, typically).
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Anchor link
HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages. HTML5 is the newest version of the language with more options available to create accessible websites.
Internationalization Anchor link
A system whose primary design has been developed to work in multiple languages and in the cultural contexts of different locales.
Information Communications Technology (ICT) Anchor link
ICT is an extensional term of the term information technology (IT). It refers to the gambit of technology involved in digital communications.
JavaScript Anchor link
One of the most widely used scripting languages; JavaScript is a client-side programming language which can be used with almost all user agents.
Late adopters Anchor link
Individuals who are hesitant to adopt new technology.
Localization Anchor link
Customizing or adapting a national or international product for a local market.
Language of parts Anchor link
A WCAG Success Criterion for when the language of a text string is not in alignment with the page-wide definition.
Luminance contrast ratio Anchor link
A measure of the difference between foreground and background; specific minimal values are recommended via WCAG 2.0.
Mark-up Anchor link
A mark-up is what the browser sees. If it is marked up as a link, it can receive focus and take you somewhere else.
Modal dialogue box Anchor link
Often referred to as a "Modal" or "Modal Window", it is a subordinate graphical interface which opens a child window in the foreground while keeping the parent page visible but inactive.
Null alt text Anchor link
Null alt text is including alt text within an "img", but without any content. An example would be <img alt=" ">. This should only be done for decorative images, spacers and pixels. (resource: An alt Decision Tree)
Open source Anchor link
Open Source software is a licensing model of software which gives free access to the source code of the software, allowing interested parties to modify or contribute to the software as they see fit. Commonly created as collaborative projects and shared at no cost.
Programmatic focus Anchor link
Where the computer's focus is on a web page.
Screen reader Anchor link
A software program used to allow reading of content, and navigation of the screen using speech or Braille output. Used primarily by people who have difficulty seeing. JAWS and NVDA are examples for PC desktop users. Apple products come with VoiceOver for both desktop computers and mobile devices, and Android mobile devices come with TalkBack.
Search engine optimization Anchor link
The process of making a website appear as highly as possible on the list of results returned by a search engine, in order to maximize the volume and quality of website traffic.
Section 504 Anchor link
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This act has implications for federal assistance and accommodation in the workplace. If an organization receives federal support of any kind, even if the organization is not a federal or state organization, the organization must comply with Section 504.
Section 508 Anchor link
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Until the Section 508 Refresh, this requirement was based on best practices of 1998.
Section 508 Refresh Anchor link
The Refresh brought the guidelines for the USA to be essentially the same as WCAG 2.0 AA.
Semantic markup Anchor link
Semantic Markup is the idea of creating more meaning with the information in web pages and web applications. This makes it easier for devices to understand what each aspect of the code means for the end user. HTML5 markup has been optimized to allow developers to create more semantic markup.
Style Anchor link
Style is what you see visually on a page, implemented with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
Transcript Anchor link
A text only version of what's said in a movie or television program; they are not real time and they generally are limited to speech only; they are not a recommended substitute for captions.
Usability Anchor link
The principle that information and applications should not only be accessible but also easy to use and understand.
User agent Anchor link
The generic term used to describe any device which might access a webpage.
Visual focus Anchor link
Where the user's focus is on a Web page. Different browsers' default focus styles may vary, and continue to be altered as browsers change.
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT™) Anchor link
A static document that describes how software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation meet accessibility requirements. Generally this is aligned with the WCAG standard. VPAT™'s are defined by an industry association, Information Technology Industry Council. VPATs often required in procurement to help buyers understand how accessible a product might be and help to discover deficiencies. These are often more about marketing than reflecting the actual accessibility barriers in the product or service.
WCAG 2.* (WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2,1, WCAG 2.2) {#wcag-2-*-wcag-2-0-wcag-2-1-wcag-2-2} Anchor link
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is focused on providing an international technical standard for web content. It has 12 guidelines that are organized under four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (ie. POUR). The guidelines each have a testable success criteria, which are at three levels: A, AA, and AAA.
WCAG 3.0 Anchor link
The WCAG Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0.
Widget Anchor link
A widget is a small application installed and used on websites. Each widget has a varying amount of purposes. An example of a widget is a small, email newsletter signup form, or a third-party live chat functionality.