Consistent Identification - Success Criterion 3.2.4 (Level AA)

Question

Do you provide consistent labels for similar or repetitive components?

Why is this important?

Buttons, icons or links that have the same functionality should have consistent identification throughout your site or application. This helps users navigate across pages with a more predictable experience. In addition, screen reader and screen magnifier users heavily rely on familiarity as a means of understanding and selecting functions.

Whom does it benefit?

Example 1

As a person who uses speech to text software,
I want all buttons to have consistent and meaningful labels
so that I can easily identify them throughout the website.

Example 2

As a person who is blind using a screen reader,
I want repeated icons to have the same alternative text
so that I can have a predictable experience without confusion.

What should you do?

Be consistent when identifying repetitive components such as buttons, icons, and links.

How do you do it?

• Ensure items with identical functions, such as buttons, have the same label.
• Non-decorative icons repeated throughout, require the same alternative text.
• Identical links should have consistent meaningful text.
  

Need technical guidance?

Technical guidance is available for implementing this Success Criterion at the Understanding Success Criterion 3.2.4 - Consistent Identification page.

Additional Resources to help you

• Consistent Identification - WUHCAG