Fix any WCAG failure.
Plain-English guides to the WCAG 2.1 failures AccessKnight flags — what each one means, who it affects, and exactly how to fix it with copy-paste code.
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Every fix, in plain English.
Images
3 rulesImages missing alt text
All <img> elements must have an alt attribute describing the content, or alt="" if decorative.
Decorative images inside interactive elements
Images with alt="" inside links/buttons need descriptive alt text.
Image alt text is unhelpful or redundant
Alt text shouldn't duplicate nearby text or use filename patterns — screen readers need meaningful descriptions.
Structure
5 rulesHeading hierarchy skips levels
Headings must follow logical order (h1→h2→h3) without skipping.
Page missing or has multiple h1
Every page should have exactly one h1.
Empty heading elements
Headings must have text. Empty headings confuse screen reader navigation.
Missing landmark regions
Use <main>, <nav>, <header> for page structure.
Duplicate element IDs
IDs must be unique. Duplicates break label associations and ARIA references.
Forms
5 rulesForm inputs missing labels
Every input needs <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby.
Buttons with no accessible name
Buttons need text, aria-label, or title. Image buttons (<input type="image">) need alt text.
Common inputs missing autocomplete
Name, email, phone, address fields should have autocomplete for faster form filling.
Select dropdowns missing labels
Every <select> must have a label.
Required fields without visible indicator
Required fields should be visually marked (e.g., asterisk) so all users know they're mandatory.
Document
5 rulesPage missing language attribute
<html> must have a lang attribute for correct screen reader pronunciation.
Page missing or empty title
<title> is the first thing screen readers announce. Every page needs one.
Viewport disables user scaling
Don't set user-scalable=no or a maximum-scale below 2. Users must zoom to 200%.
Page uses timed meta refresh
Timed meta refreshes yank content away on a clock. Instant (0-second) redirects pass; prefer server-side redirects.
Iframes missing title
Every <iframe> needs a title describing its content.
Color
2 rulesTables
1 ruleARIA
5 rulesInvalid ARIA roles
ARIA role values must be valid WAI-ARIA names.
Broken ARIA ID references
aria-labelledby, aria-describedby, aria-controls must reference existing IDs.
Nested interactive elements
Buttons, links, and interactive roles cannot be nested inside each other.
Invalid or misspelled ARIA attributes
aria-* attribute names must be valid — a misspelled attribute (aria-lable) silently does nothing.
Focusable elements hidden with aria-hidden
aria-hidden="true" content must not be keyboard-focusable — keyboard users land on elements screen readers can't announce.
Media
2 rulesGuides backed by the scanner.
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