What it does
The A11Y Project Checklist organizes web-accessibility checks by content, keyboard use, controls, forms, media and other topics. Items link to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), with an explicit statement that coverage is incomplete.
Use the table of contents to jump to the part of a page you are reviewing, such as Keyboard, Forms or Color contrast. Each item gives a concrete check, an explanation and a link to the relevant WCAG criterion. Share Link provides a direct reference to an item for a task or discussion.
The Keyboard section, for example, covers visible focus, logical focus order and hidden content that should not receive focus. The project explicitly says it covers many, but not all, Level A and AA concerns and does not guarantee an accessible site.
Some references need their current context. The checklist still includes HTML validation under Parsing, criterion 4.1.1; W3C’s current quick reference says that criterion is always satisfied for HTML and XML, with relevant accessibility failures addressed by other criteria. The checklist is free to read without an account, and its WCAG links provide a route to the fuller requirements.
Strengths
- Checks are grouped around concrete page features and interactions.
- Items link to WCAG criteria and have individual sharing links.
- The full checklist is readable without an account.
Watch out for
- The checklist explicitly covers only part of Level A and AA concerns.
- Its Parsing item needs to be read alongside W3C’s updated explanation.
Best for
- Designers and developers organizing practical accessibility reviews
Sources
- Checklist - The A11Y Project (Oct 27, 2026)
- How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference) (Oct 27, 2026)