The intent of this success criterion is to ensure that content developers provide information in the delivery unit for user agents to present text and other linguistic content correctly. Both assistive technologies and conventional user agents can render text more accurately when the language of the delivery unit is identified. Screen readers can load the correct pronunciation rules. Visual browsers can display characters and scripts correctly. Media players can show captions correctly. As a result, users with disabilities will be better able to understand the content.
The following combinations of techniques are deemed to be sufficient by the WCAG Working Group for meeting success criterion 3.1 L1 SC1.
Instructions: Select the situation below that matches your content. Beneath it, are the option(s) that are known and documented to be sufficient for that situation. For the technology-specific techniques, see the options for the technology you are using listed immediately below.
Situation A: If the language of the delivery unit (?) flows left to right (?), the following would be sufficient:
Situation B: If the language of the delivery unit (?) flows right to left (?) or can switch direction, the following would be sufficient:
lang attribute on the html element
(HTML 4.01)lang attribute AND the xml:lang attribute
on the html element (XHTML served as text/html)xml:lang attribute on the html element
(XHTML served as application/xhtml+xml)Editorial Note: These are currently contained in one technique. Should we break into three or just link to the one or ??
dir attribute to the html element when the
overall document direction is right-to-left.dir attribute to a block level element to change its
directionality. @@move to L2SC1??The following are common mistakes which are considered failures of this success criterion by the working group.
Although not required for conformance, the following additional techniques should be considered in order to make content more accessible. Not all techniques can be used or would be effective in all situations.