WCAG 2.1 Section 5.3.1: Required Components of a Conformance Claim
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What Is a WCAG Conformance Claim?
A conformance claim is a public statement that a web page, site, or application meets the requirements of a specific version and level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Section 5.3.1 of WCAG 2.1 defines exactly what must be included in such a claim for it to be valid.
Required Components of a Conformance Claim
To make a valid conformance claim under WCAG 2.1, you must include all of the following:
- Date of the claim – When the claim is made.
- Guidelines title, version, and URI – For example: "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ "
- Conformance level satisfied – Level A, AA, or AAA.
- A concise description of the web pages covered by the claim – This can be a list of URIs or an expression that describes all included pages (such as a pattern or domain).
- A list of web content technologies relied upon – All technologies (like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PDF, etc.) that are required for the content to meet WCAG.
Note: If a conformance logo is used, it counts as a claim and must be accompanied by all required components.
Best Practices for Conformance Claims
- Be specific and clear about the scope (which pages, domains, or resources are covered).
- List only technologies that are essential for accessibility (not just present on the site).
- Keep the claim up to date—review and update after significant changes.
- Optionally, provide contact information for feedback or questions.
Example Conformance Claim
Date: July 8, 2025
Guidelines: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
Conformance Level: AA
Scope: All pages under https://www.example.com/
Technologies Relied Upon: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Summary
A valid WCAG 2.1 conformance claim must include the date, guidelines version and URI, conformance level, scope, and technologies relied upon. This transparency helps users, clients, and regulators understand your accessibility status.
Transparency builds trust—document your accessibility journey!