Definition for WCAG 2.0 success criterion 2.2.2
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide: For moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information, all of the following are true:
- Moving, blinking, scrolling: For any moving, blinking or scrolling information that (1) starts automatically, (2) lasts more than five seconds, and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it unless the movement, blinking, or scrolling is part of an activity where it is essential; and
- Auto-updating: For any auto-updating information that (1) starts automatically and (2) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it or to control the frequency of the update unless the auto-updating is part of an activity where it is essential.
- Note 1: For requirements related to flickering or flashing content, refer to Guideline 2.3.
- Note 2: Since any content that does not meet this success criterion can interfere with a user's ability to use the whole page, all content on the Web page (whether it is used to meet other success criteria or not) must meet this success criterion. See Conformance Requirement 5: Non-Interference.
- Note 3: Content that is updated periodically by software or that is streamed to the user agent is not required to preserve or present information that is generated or received between the initiation of the pause and resuming presentation, as this may not be technically possible, and in many situations could be misleading to do so.
- Note 4: An animation that occurs as part of a preload phase or similar situation can be considered essential if interaction cannot occur during that phase for all users and if not indicating progress could confuse users or cause them to think that content was frozen or broken.
The intent of this Success Criterion is to avoid distracting users during their interaction with a Web page.
Content that moves or auto-updates can be a barrier to anyone who has trouble reading stationary text quickly as well as anyone who has trouble tracking moving objects. It can also cause problems for screen readers. Moving content can also be a severe distraction for some people. Certain groups, particularly those with attention deficit disorders, find blinking content distracting, making it difficult for them to concentrate on other parts of the Web page.
"Moving, blinking and scrolling" refers to content in which the visible content conveys a sense of motion. Common examples include video, synchronized media presentations, animations (including animated backgrounds/videos added to pages purely to create visual interest, unless these animated backgrounds are very slow/subtle and deemed not to be distracting), real-time games, and scrolling stock tickers. If the moving, blinking or scrolling lasts for less than 5 seconds, it is exempt from this success criterion.
"Auto-updating" refers to content that updates or disappears based on a preset time interval. Common examples include audio, automatically updated weather information, news, stock price updates, and auto-advancing presentations and messages.
Note: the success criterion only applies to situations where moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content is presented in parallel with other content. If the moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content is the only content presented (for instance, a full-screen advert or an animated introduction), this criterion is marked as not applicable.
Note: if the page does not contain any moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information, this criterion is marked as not applicable
Testing success criterion 2.2.2
Input into spreadsheet
- Fail
- Moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content does not provide a mechanism to pause, stop, or hide the content, or - in the case of auto-updating content - the update frequency cannot be set by the user.
- Pass
- For all moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content, a mechanism is available to pause, stop or hide the content, or - in the case of auto-updating content - the update frequency can be set by the user.
- N/A
- The sample does not contain moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content.
How to test
- Verify that for all content that moves, blinks or scrolls for more than five seconds, there is an easily reachable mechanism available that allows users to either pause, stop or hide the content.
- Verify that for all content that auto-updates, there is an easily reachable mechanism available that allows users to either pause, stop or hide the content, or there is a mechanism available to the user to set the update frequency.