What is WCAG 2.1? — UK Software Development Guide
Direct Answer
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 is the international standard for web accessibility published by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). It defines how web content should be made accessible to people with disabilities — including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities. WCAG 2.1 organises requirements into four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).
Wcag in the UK
In the UK, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is legally required for public sector websites under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR). For private sector organisations, the Equality Act 2010 requires that services are not discriminatory against disabled users — and an inaccessible website potentially violates this. DTAC Domain 5 (Usability & Accessibility) for NHS App Library listing requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance with evidence of manual screen reader testing. ClickMasters includes WCAG 2.1 AA testing (automated + manual) on all public-facing software.
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Get Expert Advice on Wcag
Get Expert Advice on WCAG 2.1 ClickMasters engineers apply WCAG 2.1 in every project. Free consultation. → clickmasterssoftwaredevelopmentcompany.co.uk/contact/