Definition for WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.6.2
2.6.2 Orientation: Content does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation, such as portrait or landscape, unless a specific display orientation is essential.
Note: Examples where a particular display orientation may be essential are a bank check, a piano application, slides for a projector or television, or virtual reality content where binary display orientation is not applicable.
The intent of this success criterion is to ensure users with dexterity impairments, who have a mounted device, will be able to use the content in their fixed orientation.
Some websites and applications automatically set the screen to a particular display orientation (landscape or portrait) and expect that users will respond by rotating their device to match. However, some users have their devices mounted in a fixed orientation (e.g. on the arm of a power wheelchair). Therefore, websites and applications need to support both orientations by making sure content and functionality is available in each orientation. While the order of content and method of functionality may have differences the content and functionality is available. When a particular orientation is essential, the user needs to be advised of the orientation requirements.
Testing success criterion 2.6.2
Input into spreadsheet
- Fail
- Incorrect orientation. Record the nature of the failure:
- The content is fixed in either portrait or landscape mode.
- Functionality is not available in portrait or landscape mode.
- Pass
-
- The content is oriented correctly in portrait and landscape mode, AND
- All functionality is available in portrait and landscape mode.
- N/A
- The sample has no images or graphical submit buttons.
How to test
- View the content in portrait mode on a tablet and ensure the content is correctly oriented and all functionality available.
- View the content in landscape mode on a tablet and ensure the content is correctly oriented and all functionality available.