Level AASince WCAG 2.1
4.1.3 Status Messages
Guideline 4.1: Compatible – Controls expose name, role and state to assistive technology.
What does the rule require?
Messages such as “Saved”, “3 results” or “Added to cart” are announced by the screen reader without moving focus there.
How to get it right
Write the message into a region with role="status" (polite) or role="alert" (urgent).
Who benefits most?
- Blind people
- People with low vision
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding Status Messages” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)