W3C

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

W3C Working Draft 11-June-1999

This version:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT-19990611
(plain text, postscript, pdf, gzip tar file of HTML, zip archive of HTML)
Latest version:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT
Previous version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-USERAGENT-19990331
Editors:
Jon Gunderson <jongund@uiuc.edu>
Ian Jacobs <ij@w3.org>

Abstract

This document provides guidelines to user agent manufacturers for making their products more accessible to people with disabilities and for increasing usability for all users. This document emphasizes the accessibility of interoperability between two important classes of user agents - graphical desktop browsers and dependent assistive technologies (screen readers, screen magnifiers, braille displays, and voice input software). However, it is meant to be applicable to user agents in general, including text and voice browsers, multimedia players, and plug-ins.

This document includes an appendix that organizes all of the checkpoints by topic and priority. The checkpoints in the appendix link to their definitions in the current document. The topics identified in the appendix include user interface, keyboard support, images, multimedia, tables, frames, forms, and scripts. The appendix is available as either a tabular summary of checkpoints or as a simple list of checkpoints.

A separate document, entitled "Techniques for User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0" ([TECHNIQUES]), explains how to implement the checkpoints defined in the current document. The Techniques Document discusses each checkpoint in more detail and provides examples using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), and the Mathematical Markup Language (MathML). The Techniques Document has been designed to track changes in technology and is expected to be updated more frequently than the current document. Note. Not all browsers or multimedia tools may support the features described in the guidelines. In particular, new features of HTML 4.0 or CSS 1 or CSS 2 may not be supported.

"User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0" is part of a series of accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative. The series also includes Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ([WAI-WEBCONTENT]) and Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines ([WAI-AUTOOLS]).

Status of this document

This is a W3C Working Draft for review by W3C Members and other interested parties. It is a draft document and may be updated, replaced or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use W3C Working Drafts as reference material or to cite them as other than "work in progress". This is work in progress and does not imply endorsement by, or the consensus of, either W3C or Members of the WAI User Agent (UA) Working Group.

Please send comments about this document to the public mailing list: w3c-wai-ua@w3.org.

This document has been produced as part of the Web Accessibility Initiative, and is intended as a draft of a Proposed Recommendation for how to improve user agent accessibility. The goals of the WAI UA Working Group are discussed in the WAI UA charter. A list of the current Working Group members is available.

A list of current W3C Recommendations and other technical documents can be found at http://www.w3.org/TR.

Table of Contents

The appendix list of checkpoints is available as either a tabular summary of checkpoints or as a simple list of checkpoints.


1. Introduction

For those unfamiliar with accessibility issues pertaining to user agent design, consider that many users may be using documents in contexts very different from your own:

The guidelines in this document are designed to help developers understand and thereby reduce accessibility barriers that impede access to the Web. The associated Techniques Document ([TECHNIQUES]) provides practical solutions based on existing and upcoming technologies. Though developers may believe that implementing accessibility features in their products is difficult or of limited use, considering accessibility during the design phase of a product leads to more flexible, manageable, and extensible software.

These guidelines include information relevant to a wide class of user agents: graphical desktop browsers, screen readers, speech synthesizers, multimedia players, text browsers, voice browsers, plug-ins, etc., with a particular focus on two classes of user agents:

  1. Graphical desktop browsers
  2. Dependent user agents, which rely on of other user agents for input and/or output. Dependent user agents include:

The guidelines emphasize interoperability between these two classes of user agents.

1.1 Principles of Accessible Design

This document is organized according to several principles that will improve the design of any type of user agent:

Ensure that the user interface is accessible.

The user must have access to the functionality offered by the user agent through its user interface. This includes the functionalities built into the tool as well as those offered via the document: links, form controls, applets, and other interactive elements.

The general topic of user interface accessibility for computer software exceeds the scope of this document. However, this document discusses important topics such as device-independence, configurability, and accessible product documentation. Software developers should also remember that user interfaces must be intuitive, simple, and tested. Features that are known to promote accessibility should be made obvious to users and easy to find.

Ensure that the user has access to content.

Through the user interface, users must have access to document content, including alternative content (e.g., "alt" attribute text in HTML). To ensure access to content, users must have final control of the style (colors, fonts, speech rate, speech volume, etc.) and format of a document.

User agents may facilitate access to content by providing a convenient user interface (e.g., scrolled viewport) and navigation mechanisms (e.g., allowing users to tab to active elements of a document).

Help orient the user.

Orientation - the sense of where one is within a document or series of documents - is fundamental to a successful Web experience. Visual mechanisms that promote orientation include:

Some users cannot use visual orientation clues and require other mechanisms to remain oriented:

The user agent should also minimize the chances the user will become disoriented by allowing the user to control when windows are spawned, warning the user when events occur, avoiding sudden movements of the viewport, etc.

Follow system standards and conventions.

Following system standards and conventions promotes accessibility in a number of ways:

Communication through standard interfaces is particularly important for graphical desktop user agents, which must make information available to assistive technologies. Even when a user agent implements a feature natively, it should make information available to other software. Scripting tools and automated test engines also benefit from having access to user agent information through standard interfaces.

Implementing interoperable standards (such as those produced by W3C) promotes accessibility for several reasons:

2. How the Guidelines are Organized

This document includes fourteen guidelines, or general principles of accessible design. Each guideline includes:

The checkpoint definitions in each guideline explain how the guideline applies in typical content development scenarios. Each checkpoint definition includes:

Each checkpoint is intended to be specific enough so that someone reviewing a page or site may verify that the checkpoint has been satisfied.

2.1 Document conventions

The following editorial conventions are used throughout this document:

3. Priorities

Each checkpoint in this document is assigned a priority that indicates its importance for users.

[Priority 1]
This checkpoint must be implemented by user agents as a native feature or through compatibility with assistive technology, otherwise one or more groups of users with disabilities will find it impossible to access information. Satisfying this checkpoint is a basic requirement for some individuals to be able to use the Web.
[Priority 2]
This checkpoint should be implemented by user agents as a native feature or through compatibility with assistive technology, otherwise one or more groups of users will find it difficult to access information. Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing Web documents.
[Priority 3]
This checkpoint may be implemented by user agents as a native feature or through compatibility with assistive technology, to make it easier for one or more groups of users to access information. Satisfying this checkpoint will improve access to the Web for some individuals.

3.1 Conformance

The terms "must", "should", and "may" (and related terms) are used in this document in accordance with RFC 2119 ([RFC2119]).

To promote interoperability between desktop graphical user agents and dependent user agents, conformance to this document is expressed in terms of these two types of software.

Conformance for desktop graphical user agents

In order to conform as a desktop graphical user agent, the user agent must do all of the following:

  1. Satisfy all the Priority 1 checkpoints listed in this document that apply to that class of user agent, and
  2. Satisfy those checkpoints natively unless the checkpoint explicitly indicates that it may be satisfied through communication with other software.

Even for those checkpoints that must be satisfied natively, desktop graphical user agents should make information available to other software through standard interfaces (e.g., specialized dependent user agents may provide a better solution to a problem than a desktop user agent).

Conformance for dependent user agents

In order to conform as a dependent user agent, the user agent must do all of the following:

  1. Satisfy all the Priority 1 checkpoints listed in this document that apply to that class of user agent.
  2. Satisfy those checkpoints natively unless the checkpoint explicitly indicates that it may be satisfied through communication with other software.

Conformance claims

This section defines three levels of conformance to this document.

Note. Conformance levels are spelled out in text so they may be understood when rendered to speech.

Claims of conformance to this document must use one of the following two forms.

Form 1: Specify:

Example of Form 1:

This product conforms as a desktop graphical user agent to W3C's "User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0", available at http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT-19990611, level Double-A.

or:

This screen reader conforms as a dependent user agent to W3C's "User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0", available at http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT-19990611, level Double-A.

Form 2: Include, on product packaging or documentation, one of three icons provided by W3C and for Web documentation, link the icon to the appropriate W3C explanation of the claim.

Note. In the event this document becomes a W3C Recommendation, information about the icons and how to use them will be available at the W3C Web site.


4. User Agent Accessibility Guidelines

Guideline 1. Support input and output device-independence

Next guideline: 2 Previous guideline: 11 Go to contents

Ensure that the user can interact with the user agent (and the document it renders) using the supported input and output devices of their choice.

Input devices include pointing devices, keyboards, braille devices, head wands, microphones, and others. Output devices may include monitors, speech synthesizers, braille devices, and printers.

Please note that "device-independent support" does not mean that user agents must support every input or output device. User agents should offer redundant input and output mechanisms for those devices that are supported. For example, if a user agent supports keyboard and mouse input, users should be able to interact with all features using either the keyboard or the mouse.

1.1 Ensure that all functionalities offered by the user agent interface are available through all supported input devices. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.1
1.2 By default and without additional customization, ensure that all functionalities offered by the user agent are accessible using the keyboard. [Priority 1]
Note. This checkpoint intends to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies that rely on keyboard input. Functionalities include:
Techniques for checkpoint 1.2
1.3 Ensure that the user can interact with all active elements of a document in a device-independent manner. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.3
1.4 Ensure that the user can install the user agent software in a device-independent manner. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.4
1.5 Ensure that the user can configure the user agent in a device-independent manner. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.5
1.6 Ensure that the user can access user agent documentation in a device-independent manner. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.6
1.7 Ensure that all messages to the user (e.g., warnings, errors, etc.) are available in an output device-independent manner using any supported output devices. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 1.7

Guideline 2. Allow the user to configure preferences

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Ensure that the user may configure preferences for style and keyboard access.

One area where configurability is important involves keyboard access to user agent functionality. Some users require single-key access, others require that keys activated in combination be physically close together, while others require that they be spaced physically far apart. Configurability is vital to accessible keyboard input.

The more apparent the keyboard commands are to all users, the more likely it is that new users with disabilities will find them and use them.

2.1 Allow the user to configure the keystrokes used to activate user agent functionalities. Wherever possible, allow single key activation of functions. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 2.1
2.2 Indicate the keyboard access method to activate a user agent function using platform conventions. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 2.2
2.3 Allow the user to configure the user agent in named profiles that may be shared (by other users or software). [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 2.3
2.4 Allow the user to configure element sets for various navigation mechanisms. [Priority 2]
For instance, allow the user to choose which element types to navigate sequentially (e.g., links alone, links and headers, headers and lists, etc.). Similarly, allow the user to choose element types for direct navigation and searching. Refer also to guideline 7.
Techniques for checkpoint 2.4

Guideline 3. Provide accessible product documentation and help

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Ensure that the user can learn about software features, notably those that relate to accessibility.

Users who may not be able to access print material, including individuals with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or movement impairments, may be able to use accessible electronic documentation or documents in alternative hardcopy formats.

Documentation includes all product documentation, notably installation instructions, the help system, and all product manuals.

3.1 Ensure that all product documentation conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. [Priority 1]
Refer to [WAI-WEBCONTENT].
Techniques for checkpoint 3.1
3.2 Describe product features known to promote accessibility in a section of the product documentation. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 3.2
3.3 Provide documentation on default keyboard commands and include with user agent documentation and/or user help system. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 3.3
3.4 Provide information to the user about the current keyboard configuration. [Priority 2]
Note. For example, users should be able to find information about complex key combinations.
Techniques for checkpoint 3.4

Refer also to checkpoint 11.6.

Guideline 4. Allow the user to turn off features that may reduce accessibility

Next guideline: 5 Previous guideline: 3 Go to contents

Subhead here.

User agents are only expected to provide this control for content that it recognizes. Refer also to guideline 5.

4.1 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of images. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.1
4.2 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of background images. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.2
4.3 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of video. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.3
4.4 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of sound. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.4
4.5 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of captions. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.5
4.6 Allow the user to turn on and off animated or blinking text. [Priority 1]
Note. This is particularly important for users with screen readers.
Techniques for checkpoint 4.6
4.7 Allow the user to turn on and off animations and blinking images. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.7
4.8 Allow the user to turn on and off support for scripts and applets. [Priority 1]
Note. This is particularly important for scripts that cause the screen to flicker, since people with photosensitive epilepsy can have seizures triggered by flickering or flashing in the 4 to 59 flashes per second (Hertz) range.
Techniques for checkpoint 4.8
4.9 Allow the user to turn on and off support for user style sheets. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.9
4.10 Allow the user to turn on and off support for author style sheets. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.10
4.11 Allow the user to turn on and off support for spawned windows. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.11
4.12 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of frames. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.12
4.13 Allow the user to turn on and off automatic page forwarding. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.13
4.14 Allow the user to turn on and off automatic page refresh. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 4.14

Guideline 5. Ensure user control over document styles

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Ensure that the user has control over the colors, fonts and other stylistic aspects of a document and can author styles and user agent default styles.

In order to access a document, some users may require that it be rendered in a manner other than what the author intended. Users who are color-deficient may not be able to perceive certain color combinations. Users with low vision may require large fonts. Users who are blind may require audio or tactile rendering. Users who are deaf may require captions for audio files.

User agents must therefore allow the user to control:

Otherwise, users who are blind, have visual impairments, some types of learning disabilities, or any user who cannot or has chosen not to view the primary representation of information will not know content of the information on the page.

The following checkpoints state which styles the user must be able to control. The checkpoints also require user agents to allow users to override author styles and user agent defaults. The checkpoints apply to alternative representations of content as well as primary content.

Checkpoints for fonts and colors:

5.1 Allow the user to control font family. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.1
5.2 Allow the user to control font size. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.2
5.3 Allow the user to control foreground color. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.3
5.4 Allow the user to control background color. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.4
5.5 Allow the user to control selection highlighting (e.g., foreground and background color). [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.5
5.6 Allow the user to control focus highlighting (e.g., foreground and background color). [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.6

See also checkpoints checkpoint 6.13 and checkpoint 6.14.

Checkpoints for applets and animations:

5.7 Allow the user to control animation rate. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.7

Checkpoints for video.

5.8 Allow the user to control video frame rates. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.8
5.9 Allow the user to control the position of captions. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.9
5.10 Allow the user to start, stop, pause, and rewind video. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.10

Checkpoints for audio:

5.11 Allow the user to control audio playback rate. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.11
5.12 Allow the user to start, stop, pause, and rewind audio. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.12
5.13 Allow the user to control audio volume. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.13

Checkpoints for speech:

5.14 Allow the user to control speech playback rate. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.14
5.15 Allow the user to control speech volume, pitch, gender and other articulation characteristics. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.15

Checkpoints for changes to the user interface:

5.16 When new windows or user interface components are spawned, allow the user to control window size and position. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 5.16

Guideline 6. Ensure user access to document content

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Ensure that users have access to primary as well as author-supplied alternative representations of content (descriptions of images, captions for video or audio, etc.)

Otherwise, some users cannot perceive the primary content due to a disability or a technological limitation (e.g., browser configured not to display images).

General checkpoints:

6.1 Ensure that the user has access to document content. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.1
6.2 For dependent user agents. Ensure that the user has access to the content of an element selected by the user. [Priority 1]
For instance, allow the user to identify a table cell with the selection and provide the user with cell content and (optionally) associated header information.
Techniques for checkpoint 6.2
6.3 Ensure that the user has access to alternative representations of content. [Priority 1]
For example, the value of "alt" in HTML or SMIL, the resource designated by "longdesc", or the content of OBJECT in HTML 4.0, the "summary" attribute for tables in HTML, etc.
Techniques for checkpoint 6.3
6.4 For dependent user agents. Support marked-up changes in natural language of content. For unsupported languages, notify the user of the change. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.4
6.5 When no alternative text representation has been specified, indicate what type of object is present. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.5
6.6 When alternative text has been specified explicitly as empty (i.e., an empty string), render nothing. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.6

Checkpoints for audio:

6.7 If a technology allows for more than one caption or description track for audio, allow the user to choose from among tracks. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.7
6.8 Allow the user to specify that captions for audio be rendered at the same time as the audio. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.8

Checkpoints for video:

6.9 If a technology allows for more than one caption or description track (e.g., text, video of sign language, etc.) for video, allow the user to choose from among tracks. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.9
6.10 If a technology allows for more than one audio track for video, allow the user to choose from among tracks. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.10
6.11 Allow the user to specify that text descriptions of video be rendered at the same time as the video. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.11
6.12 Allow the user to specify that auditory descriptions of video be rendered at the same time as the video. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.12

Checkpoints for links:

6.13 Provide a mechanism (e.g., through style sheets) to distinguish visited links from unvisited links. [Priority 3]
Note. Using color as the only distinguishing factor does not suffice since color may not be perceivable by all users or rendered by all devices.
Techniques for checkpoint 6.13
6.14 Allow the user to specify (e.g., through style sheets) that images used in links must have borders. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 6.14

Guideline 7. Provide navigation mechanisms

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Subhead here.

Refer also to checkpoint 2.4.

Note. For all search and navigation functions, the user agent should follow system conventions for using selection and focus mechanisms. For instance, the selection should be used to identify the results of a text search, the focus should identify active elements during sequential navigation of active elements, etc.

7.1 Allow the user to navigate views (notably those with frame viewports). [Priority 1]
Note. Navigating into a view makes it the current view.
Techniques for checkpoint 7.1
7.2 Keep track of the user's point of regard in each view and restore it when the user returns to the view. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 7.2
7.3 For dependent user agents. Allow the user to navigate among table cells of a table (notably left and right within a row and up and down within a column). [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 7.3
7.4 Allow the user to navigate sequentially among all active elements in the document. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 7.4
7.5 Allow the user to navigate directly to active elements in the document. [Priority 2]
For instance, the user might navigate directly by selecting the number of a link or by entering the first letter of link text.
Techniques for checkpoint 7.5
7.6 Allow the user to search for active elements. [Priority 2]
For instance, the user might search based on form control text, associated labels, or form control names.
Techniques for checkpoint 7.6
7.7 Allow the user to search for text content. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 7.7
7.8 For dependent user agents. Allow the user to navigate the document tree. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 7.8

Guideline 8. Help orient the user

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Subhead here.

Document information:

Users that are viewing documents through linear channels of perception like speech (since speech is temporal in nature) and tactile displays (current tactile technology is limited in the amount of information that can be displayed) have difficulty maintaining a sense of their relative position in a document. The meaning of "relative position" depends on the situation. It may mean the distance from the beginning of the document to the point of regard (how much of the document has been read), it may mean the cell currently being examined in a table, or the position of the current document in a set of documents.

For people with visual impairments, blindness, or certain types of learning disabilities, it is important that the point of regard remain as stable as possible. The user agent should not disturb the user's point of regard by shifting focus to a different frame or window when an event occurs without notifying the user of the change.

8.1 Provide a mechanism for highlighting and identifying (through a standard interface where available) the current view. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.1
8.2 Provide a mechanism for highlighting and identifying (through a standard interface where available) the user selection. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.2
8.3 Provide a mechanism for highlighting and identifying (through a standard interface where available) the current focus. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.3
8.4 For dependent user agents. Provide the user with information about the number of viewports. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.4
8.5 Ensure that when the selection changes, it is in the viewport after the change. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.5
8.6 Ensure that when the focus changes, it is in the viewport after the change. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.6
8.7 Identify a frame selected by the user. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.7
8.8 For dependent user agents. Allow the user to view a document outline constructed from its structural elements (e.g., from header and list elements). [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.8
8.9 Make available the primary language of a document's content. [Priority 3]
For example, use HTTP header information or language attribute information the document root.
Techniques for checkpoint 8.9
8.10 Make available the number of links in a document. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.10
8.11 Make available the number of visited links in a document. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.11
8.12 Make available the number of tables in a document. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.12
8.13 Make available the number of form controls in a document. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.13
8.14 Make available what portion of the document has loaded. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.14

Link information:

8.15 Identify a link selected by the user. [Priority 3]
For instance, the link's integer position in the document.
Techniques for checkpoint 8.15
8.16 Make available whether a chosen link has already been visited. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.16
8.17 Make available whether a chosen link is local to the document. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.17
8.18 Make available whether following a link will involve a fee. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.18

Table information:

8.19 Identify a table selected by the user. [Priority 3]
For instance, the table's integer position in the document.
Techniques for checkpoint 8.19
8.20 Make available the dimensions of a chosen table. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.20

Table cell information:

8.21 For dependent user agents. Provide access to header information for a table cell selected by the user. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.21
8.22 Identify the table containing a table cell selected by the user. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.22
8.23 Make available the coordinates in the current table of a selected table cell. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.23

Form control information:

8.24 Provide the user with access to any label explicitly associated with a form control. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 8.24

Guideline 9. Notify the user of document changes

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It is important to alert users, in an output device-independent fashion, when important events occur during a browsing session.

To avoid confusion that the effects of scripts may cause, users should be notified when scripts are executed (or be able to disable scripts entirely). This is also important for security reasons; users should be able to decide whether to allow scripts to execute on their machines.

9.1 For dependent user agents. Alert the user when scripts or applets are executed. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 9.1
9.2 For dependent user agents. Provide information about document changes resulting from the execution of a script. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 9.2
9.3 Notify the user when enough of the document has loaded in order to begin to browse. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 9.3
9.4 Notify the user when document loading has stalled. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 9.4
9.5 Allow the user to request to be prompted before a form is submitted. [Priority 3]
Techniques for checkpoint 9.5

Guideline 10. Support applicable W3C technologies and guidelines

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User agents should support applicable W3C technologies and in particular the accessibility features defined for the technology.

The current guidelines recommend support for W3C technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, MathML, SMIL, etc.) for several reasons:

10.1 Implement the accessibility features defined for supported technologies. [Priority 1]
Note. The Techniques document discusses accessibility features of W3C technologies.
Techniques for checkpoint 10.1
10.2 Support appropriate W3C Recommendations. [Priority 2]
For instance, for document markup, support HTML and XML; for style sheets, support CSS; for mathematics, support MathML; for multimedia, support SMIL, etc.
Techniques for checkpoint 10.2

Guideline 11. Observe system conventions and standard interfaces

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When a user agent communicates with other software (dependent user agents, the operating system, plug-ins), must do so through applicable interfaces. To promote interoperability, open standards should be used wherever possible.

Some operating systems have operating system-level flags and settings that are pertinent to accessibility, such as high-contrast colors and "show" sounds for people with hearing impairments. User agents should take these global settings into account for their own settings.

11.1 For desktop graphical browsers. Use and provide accessible interfaces to other technologies. [Priority 1]
To promote interoperability, open standards should be used wherever possible.
Techniques for checkpoint 11.1
11.2 For desktop graphical browsers. Provide programmatic read and write access to user agent functionalities and user interface controls (including selection and focus) by using operating system and development language accessibility resources and conventions. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 11.2
11.3 For desktop graphical browsers. Notify dependent user agents of changes to the document and user interface controls (including selection and focus) by using operating system and development language accessibility resources and conventions. [Priority 1]
Techniques for checkpoint 11.3
11.4 For desktop graphical browsers. Comply with W3C Document Object Model specifications and export interfaces defined by those specifications. [Priority 1]
For example, refer to [DOM, Level 1]. Note. The DOM Level 1 specification states that "DOM applications may provide additional interfaces and objects not found in this specification and still be considered DOM compliant."
Techniques for checkpoint 11.4
11.5 For desktop graphical browsers. Provide programmatic exchange of information in a timely manner. [Priority 2]
This is important for synchronous alternative renderings and simulation of events.
Techniques for checkpoint 11.5
11.6 Follow operating system conventions and accessibility settings. In particular, follow conventions for user interface design, default keyboard configuration, product installation, and documentation. [Priority 2]
Techniques for checkpoint 11.6

Appendix A. -- Glossary

Alternative representations of content
Certain types of content (e.g., images, audio, video, applets, etc.) may not be accessible to all users, so user agents must ensure that users have access to author-supplied alternative representations of content. The Techniques Document ([TECHNIQUES]) describes the different mechanisms authors may use to supply alternative representations of content. Please also consult the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ([WAI-WEBCONTENT]).
Applicable checkpoint
A checkpoint applies to a user agent unless:
Documents, Elements, and Attributes
A document may be seen as a hierarchy of elements. Elements are defined by a language specification (e.g., HTML 4.0 or an XML application). Each element may have content, which generally contributes to the document's content. Elements may also have attributes that take values. Some attributes are integral to document accessibility (e.g., the "alt", "title", and "longdesc" attributes in HTML).
An element's rendered content is that which a user agent renders for the element. Often, this is what lies between the element's start and end tags. However, some elements cause external data to be rendered (e.g., the IMG element in HTML). At times, a browser may render the value of an attribute (e.g., "alt", "title" in HTML) in place of or in addition to the element's content. Rendering is not limited to only visual displays, but can also include audio (speech and sound) and tactile displays (braille and haptic displays).
Events and scripting
When certain events occur (document loading or unloading events, mouse press or hover events, keyboard events, etc.), user agents often perform some task (e.g., execute a script). For instance, in most user agents, when a mouse button is released over a link, the link is activated and the linked resource retrieved. User agents may also execute author-defined scripts when certain events occur. The script bound to a particular event is called an event handler. Note. The interaction of HTML, style sheets, the Document Object Model [DOM1] and scripting is commonly referred to as "Dynamic HTML" or DHTML. However, as there is no W3C specification that formally defines DHTML, this document will only refer to event handlers and scripts.
Focus
The user focus designates an active element in a document. Which elements are active depends on the document language and whether the features are supported by the user agent. In HTML documents, for example, active elements include links, form controls, elements with a value for the "longdesc" attribute, and elements with associated scripts (event handlers). An element with the focus may be activated through any number of mechanisms, including the mouse, keyboard, an API, etc.
The effect of activation depends on the element. For instance, when a link is activated, the user agent generally retrieves the linked resource, which may be another Web page, program, etc. When a form control is activated, it may change state (e.g., check boxes) or may take user input (e.g., a text field). Activating an element with a script assigned for that particular activation mechanism (e.g., mouse down event, key press event, etc.) causes the script to be executed.
A view has at most one focus. When several views co-exist, each may have a focus, but only one is active, called the current focus. The current focus is generally presented (e.g., highlighted) in a way that makes it stand out.
Insertion point
The insertion point is the location where document editing takes place. The insertion point may be set by the user (e.g., by a pointing device or the keyboard editing keys) or through an application programming interface (API). A view has at most one insertion point. When several views co-exist, each may have an insertion point, but only one is active, called the current insertion point
The insertion point is generally rendered specially (e.g., on the screen, by a vertical bar or similar cursor).
Native support
A user agent supports a feature natively if it does not require another piece of software (e.g., plug-in or external program) for support.
Properties, Values, and Defaults
A user agent renders a document by applying formatting algorithms and style information to the document's elements. Formatting depends on a number of factors, including where the document is rendered: on screen, paper, through speakers, a braille device, a mobile device, etc. Style information (e.g., fonts, colors, voice inflection, etc.) may come from the elements themselves (e.g., certain style attributes in HTML), from style sheets, or from user agent settings. For the purposes of these guidelines, each formatting or style option is governed by a property and each property may take one value from a set of legal values. (The term "property" in this document has the meaning ascribed in the CSS2 Recommendation.) A reference to "styles" in this document means a set of style-related properties.
The value given to a property by a user agent when it is started up is called the property's default value. User agents may allow users to change default values through a variety of mechanisms (e.g., the user interface, style sheets, initialization files, etc.).
Once the user agent is running, the value of a property for a given document or part of a document may be changed from the default value. The value of the property at a given moment is called its current value. Note that changes in the current value of a property do not change its default value.
Current values may come from documents, style sheets, scripts, or the user interface. Values that come from documents, their associated style sheets, or via a server are called author styles. Values that come from user interface settings, user style sheets, or other user interactions are called user styles.
Recognize
A user agent is said to recognize markup, content types, or rendering effects when it can identify (through built-in mechanisms, DTDs, style sheets, headers, etc) the information. For instance, HTML 3.2 user agents may not recognize the new elements or attributes of HTML 4.0. Similarly, a user agent may recognize visually blinking content specified by elements or attributes, but may not recognize that an applet is blinking. The Techniques Document discusses some content that affects accessibility and should be recognized as such.
Selection
The user selection generally specifies a range of content (text, images, etc.) in a document. The range may be restricted to the content of a single element or may span several elements. The selection may be used for a variety of purposes: for cut and paste operations, to designate a specific element in a document, to identify what a screen reader should read, etc.
The user selection may be set by the user (e.g., by a pointing device or the keyboard) or through an application programming interface (API). A view has at most one user selection. When several views co-exist, each may have a user selection, but only one is active, called the current user selection.
The user selection is usually presented in a way the stands out (e.g., highlighted). On the screen, the selection may be highlighted using colors, fonts, graphics, or other mechanisms. Highlighted text is often used by dependent user agents to indicate through speech or braille output what the user wants to read. Most screen readers are sensitive to highlight colors. Dependent user agents may provide alternative presentation of the selection through speech, enlargement, or refreshable braille display.
Both the current focus and the current user selection must be in the same view, called the current view. The current view is generally highlighted when several views co-exist.
Views, Viewports, and Point of Regard
User agents may handle different types of source information: documents, sound objects, video objects, etc. The user perceives the information through a viewport, which may be a window, frame, a piece of paper, a speaker, a virtual magnifying glass, etc. A viewport may contain another viewport (e.g., nested frames, plug-ins, etc.).
User agents may render the same source information in a variety of ways; each rendering is called a view. For instance, a user agent may allow users to view a document in one window and a generated list of headers for the document in another.
The view is how source information is rendered and the viewport is where it is rendered.
Generally, viewports give users access to all rendered information, though not always at once. For example, a video player shows a certain number of frames per second, but allows the user to rewind and fast forward. A visual browser viewport generally features scrollbars or some other paging mechanism that allows the user to bring the rendered content into the viewport.
The content currently available in the viewport is called the user's point of regard. The point of regard may be a two dimensional area (e.g., for graphical rendering) or a single point (e.g., for aural rendering or voice browsing). User agents should not change the point of regard unexpectedly as this can disorient users.

5. Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the following people who have contributed through review and comment: Paul Adelson, James Allan, Denis Anson, Kitch Barnicle, Harvey Bingham, Olivier Borius, Judy Brewer, Bryan Campbell, Kevin Carey, Wendy Chisholm, David Clark, Chetz Colwell, Wilson Craig, Nir Dagan, Daniel Dardailler, B. K. Delong, Neal Ewers, Geoff Freed, John Gardner, Al Gilman, Larry Goldberg, John Grotting, Markku Hakkinen, Earle Harrison, Chris Hasser, Kathy Hewitt, Philipp Hoschka, Masayasu Ishikawa, Phill Jenkins, Leonard Kasday, George Kerscher, Marja-Riitta Koivunen, Josh Krieger, Catherine Laws, Greg Lowney, Scott Luebking, William Loughborough, Napoleon Maou, Charles McCathieNevile, Masafumi Nakane, Mark Novak, Charles Oppermann, Mike Paciello, David Pawson, Michael Pederson, Helen Petrie, David Poehlman, Michael Pieper, Jan Richards, Hans Riesebos, Joe Roeder, Lakespur L. Roca, Greg Rosmaita, Lloyd Rutledge, Liam Quinn, T.V. Raman, Robert Savellis, Rich Schwerdtfeger, Constantine Stephanidis, Jim Thatcher, Jutta Treviranus, Claus Thogersen, Steve Tyler, Gregg Vanderheiden, Jaap van Lelieveld, Jon S. von Tetzchner, Willie Walker, Ben Weiss, Evan Wies, Chris Wilson, Henk Wittingen, and Tom Wlodkowski,

6. References

[CSS1]
"CSS, level 1 Recommendation", B. Bos, H. Wium Lie, eds. The CSS1 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-CSS1-19990111.
[CSS2]
"CSS, level 2 Recommendation", B. Bos, H. Wium Lie, C. Lilley, and I. Jacobs, eds. The CSS2 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-CSS2-19980512.
[DOM1]
"Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification", V. Apparao, S. Byrne, M. Champion, S. Isaacs, I. Jacobs, A. Le Hors, G. Nicol, J. Robie, R. Sutor, C. Wilson, and L. Wood, eds. The DOM Level 1 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-DOM-Level-1-19981001.
[HTML40]
"HTML 4.0 Recommendation", D. Raggett, A. Le Hors, and I. Jacobs, eds. The HTML 4.0 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-html40-19980424.
[HTML32]
"HTML 3.2 Recommendation", D. Raggett, ed. The HTML 3.2 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html32.
[MATHML]
"Mathematical Markup Language", P. Ion and R. Miner, eds. The MathML 1.0 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-MathML-19980407.
[RFC2119]
"Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", S. Bradner, March 1997. Available at http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt
[SMIL]
"Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) 1.0 Specification", P. Hoschka, editor. The SMIL 1.0 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-smil-19980615
[TECHNIQUES]
"Techniques for User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0", J. Gunderson, I. Jacobs, eds. This document explains how to implement the checkpoints defined in "User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0". The latest draft of the techniques is available at: http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/WAI-USERAGENT-TECHS/
[WAI-AUTOOLS]
"Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines", J. Treviranus, J. Richards, I. Jacobs, C. McCathieNevile, eds. The latest Working Draft of these guidelines for designing accessible authoring tools is available at:
http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-WAI-AUTOOLS/
[WAI-WEBCONTENT]
"Web Content Accessibility Guidelines", W. Chisholm, G. Vanderheiden, and I. Jacobs, eds., 5 May 1999. This W3C Recommendation is http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505.
[XML]
"Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0.", T. Bray, J. Paoli, C.M. Sperberg-McQueen, eds. The XML 1.0 Recommendation is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-xml-19980210