WCAG
The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are the internationally recognised W3C guidelines for accessible web content; across three conformance levels (A, AA, AAA) they define how digital content must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
In practice
The current technical version is WCAG 2.2 (2023). The version of EN 301 549 cited in the Official Journal of the EU (V3.2.1, 2021-03), by contrast, still points to WCAG 2.1 level AA; the revision has been available since June 2026 as final draft EN 301 549 V4.1.0, which adopts WCAG 2.2; the ETSI voting procedure has been running since 25 June 2026, and citation in the Official Journal is still pending. In practice, testing is done against level AA – and anyone working to version 2.2 satisfies the criteria of 2.1 along with it, which is exactly what the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) recommends. Typical measures are sufficient colour contrast, alternative text, keyboard operability and clearly labelled forms.
Matching service
Sources
- W3C: WCAG Übersicht (opens in a new tab)
- Europäische Kommission: Web Accessibility Directive – Standards and harmonisation (harmonisierte Fassung EN 301 549 V3.2.1) (opens in a new tab)
- WKO: Barrierefreiheitsgesetz im E-Commerce – FAQ (Empfehlung, sich an WCAG 2.2 zu orientieren) (opens in a new tab)