Definition for WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2.6
3.2.6 Status Changes: In content implemented using markup languages, status messages can be programmatically determined through role or properties such that they can be presented to the user by assistive technologies without receiving focus.
Note: At the time of writing (16th March 2018), there is a discussion on the WCAG working group for moving this success criterion to guideline 4.1.
The intent of this success criterion is to ensure more users can be made aware of important changes in content that are not given focus, in a way that doesn't unnecessarily interrupt their work.
The intended beneficiaries are blind and low vision users of assistive technologies with screen reader capabilities. Assistive technologies for users with cognitive disabilities may achieve an alternative means of indicating (or even delaying or suppressing) status messages, as preferred by the user.
Note: The scope of this success criterion is specific to changes in content that involve status messages. Information can frequently be added to a page, which does not meet the definition of a status message. For example, the list of results obtained from a search is not considered a status update and thus are not covered by this Success Criterion. However, brief text messages displayed about the completion or status of the search, such as "18 results returned" or "no results returned" would be status updates.
Note: If no status changes occur, this success criterion is marked as not applicable.
Testing success criterion 2.6.2
Input into spreadsheet
- Fail
- Status change not announced by assistive technologies. Record the nature of the failure:
- Some status changes are not announced by assistive technologies, OR
- Some status change messages are unnecessary.
- Pass
-
- All appropriate status changes are announced by assistive technologies, AND
- The status change messages are necessary.
- N/A
- The sample has no status changes.
How to test
Interact with elements on the page and for each status change message:
- Ensure the message is announced by assistive technologies, AND
- Ensure the message is appropriate