WCAG 2.0 vs. 2.1 vs. 2.2

What’s the difference between WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2? 

There are three versions of WCAG — and most websites are targeting the wrong one. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard the DOJ references for ADA compliance. Not 2.0. Not 2.2. Here's what that means for your site.

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are the technical standards that laws like the ADA point to when defining what accessible digital content looks like. 

Here’s how the versions break down:

WCAG 2.0 was published in 2008. It established four core principles: content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. While foundational, this version predates technology like touchscreens and mobile-first designs.

WCAG 2.1, released in 2018, added 17 new success criteria with the biggest additions being better mobile accessibility, support for low vision users, and protections for people with cognitive disabilities. This is the version most U.S legal standards and global frameworks reference.

WCAG 2.2 came out in October 2023 and added nine more criteria. The most notable ones include a minimum touch size for interactive elements and requirements around dragging movements, both especially relevant for mobile or touch interfaces.

To summarize: WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the version referenced for ADA compliance. WCAG 2.2 added nine success criteria in October 2023 to enhance accessibility on mobile devices.