The presentation of this document has been augmented to identify changes from a previous version. Three kinds of changes are highlighted: [begin add] new, added text [end add],[begin change] changed text [end change], and[begin delete] deleted text [end delete].

Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.6 [Error Prevention (All)]

3.3.6 For [begin add]Web pages[end add] [begin delete]forms[end delete] that require the user to submit information, at least one of the following is true: (Level AAA)

  1. Reversible: [begin change]Submissions [1947] [end change] are reversible.

  2. Checked: [begin change]Data entered by the user[end change] is checked for input errors [begin delete]before going on to the next step in the process [1947] [end delete] [begin add] and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them [2014] [end add].

  3. Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the [begin change]submission [1947] [end change].

Intent of this Success Criterion

The intent of this success criterion is to help users with disabilities avoid consequences that may result from making a mistake when submitting form data. This criterion builds on Success Criterion 3.3.3 in that it applies to all forms that require users to submit information.

Users with disabilities may be more likely to make mistakes and may have more difficulty detecting or recovering from mistakes. People with reading disabilities may transpose numbers and letters, and those with motor disabilities may hit keys by mistake. Providing the ability to reverse actions allows users to correct a mistake that could result in serious consequences. Providing the ability to review and correct information gives the user an opportunity to detect a mistake before taking an action.

Specific Benefits of Success Criterion 3.3.6:

  • Providing safeguards to avoid serious consequences resulting from mistakes helps users with all disabilities who may be more likely to make mistakes.

Techniques and Failures for Success Criterion 3.3.6 [Error Prevention (All)]

Each numbered item in this section represents a technique or combination of techniques that the WCAG Working Group deems sufficient for meeting this success criterion. The techniques listed only satisfy the success criterion if all of the WCAG 2.0 conformance requirements have been met.

Sufficient Techniques

  1. Following the sufficient techniques for Success Criterion 3.3.4 for all forms that require the user to submit information.

Key Terms

input error

information provided by the user that is not accepted

Note: This includes:

  1. Information that is required by the Web page but omitted by the user

  2. Information that is provided by the user but that falls outside the required data format or values

mechanism

process or technique for achieving a result

Note 1: The mechanism may be explicitly provided in the content, or may be relied on to be provided by either the platform or by user agents, including assistive technologies.

Note 2: The mechanism must meet all success criteria for the conformance level claimed.

process

series of user actions where each action is required in order to complete an activity

Example 1: Successful use of a series of Web pages on a shopping site requires users to view alternative products, prices and offers, select products, submit an order, provide shipping information and provide payment information.

Example 2: An account registration page requires successful completion of a Turing test before the registration form can be accessed.