If your site is already compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, you might think you’re covered. However, with the release of WCAG 2.2 in October 2023, new success criteria could affect your design, usability, and compliance status. These updates focus heavily on cognitive accessibility and mobile usability, and missing them could mean falling out of step with global accessibility laws.

Whether you are an online store owner, a digital marketer, or part of a larger e-commerce team, brush up on the seven most impactful WCAG 2.2 updates to stay on top of your compliance requirements.

Ensure on-screen elements stay visible

When users navigate your site using a keyboard, the item they've selected (like a menu item or pop-up) must stay fully visible on the screen. If it is obscured by another element, like a sticky header, that's a WCAG 2.2 violation.

Offer alternatives to drag-and-drop

Drag-and-drop functionality can be difficult for users with motor impairments. WCAG 2.2 now requires that websites offer accessible alternatives, such as buttons or keyboard shortcuts, to complete these actions.

Make clickable areas easier to tap

Buttons, links, and other interactive targets must now be at least 24 x 24 pixels in size, unless surrounded by adequate space. This is especially important for mobile users and those with limited dexterity.

Keep help features consistent

If you offer help options, such as live chat, support links, or contact forms, they should appear consistently in the same place across all pages. This reduces cognitive load and makes support easier to find.

Simplify login and verification steps

Users must be able to authenticate without needing to remember passwords or solve visual puzzles, like CAPTCHAs. Alternatives like password managers, biometric logins, or one-time codes support compliance.

Eliminate unnecessary repetition

If users provide information during a multi-step task, like a checkout process, they should not be required to re-enter the same data unless necessary for security or functionality.

Improve visibility of focus highlights

The visual indicator that shows which element is selected when tabbing through a page must now meet stricter design rules. It should be at least 2 pixels thick and clearly contrast with the background.

While not yet mandated everywhere, meeting WCAG 2.2 standards ensures a better digital experience for all users and helps protect your business from legal risk. Use an online accessibility checker to audit your website for WCAG compliance to see which areas need to be updated. Even better, invest in an all-in-one solution that provides ongoing, no-code compliance for e-commerce brands seeking to lead with inclusion. Paid solutions like an accessibility app will automate compliance to WCAG 2.2 once it becomes a reference point for legal frameworks such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the UK Equality Act 2010, and similar regulations, so complying now will keep you ahead of the pack.