9 · Appropriate Feedback
Once a user has submitted text to a form or editable area, it is important that correct feedback is received to prevent confusion. Clearly identifying required fields also prevents a keyboard only user from submitting a form without all the necessary information for completion. There should be no time restrictions and clear methods for pausing items or returning to a page to correct an error. The addition of labels and instructions should be provided where content requires user input or uses unfamiliar icons. Accessible help or support materials can assist the user with interacting with the content.
Outcomes and Scores
This test has 4 possible outcomes.
| Outcome | Score |
|---|---|
| Appropriate feedback, user directed to what they should do next, time restrictions can be extended or do not exist. Status messages providing feedback when data is submitted, validation messages for user input fields, convey progress of a process. | 100% |
| Some text feedback (e.g. "bad username"), or new page reached without further action, time allowance if offered can be extended. | 67% |
| User directed between steps in a process, no information about the process but time limiters shown. Lacks requirement for form field error messaging. | 33% |
| No error message feedback or requirement to state when fields need to be completed. User may be confused about what to do next and action times-out. Using role='alert' on unimportant and time-sensitive content. | 0% |
Disabilities
The results of this test are taken into account when calculating accessibility scores for the following disabilities.
Techniques
The following techniques may come in handy when running this test.
References
This test aims to cover the following sections of best practice.
| Document | Section | Heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 | 1.3.3 | Sensory Characteristics | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 2.2.1 | Timing Adjustable | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 3.3.1 | Error Identification | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 3.3.2 | Labels or Instructions | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 3.3.3 | Error Suggestion | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 3.3.4 | Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | More Info |
| WCAG 2.1 | 4.1.3 | Status Messages | More Info |