WCAG 2.2.2: Pause, Stop, Hide
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What's it about?
Moving content must be possible to stop or hide.
- For content that moves, blinks, or scrolls (animations): If it starts automatically, lasts longer than five seconds, and appears alongside static content, users must be able to pause it or hide it. An example is an automatically rotating slider.
- For content that updates automatically: Content that refreshes on its own must also be possible to stop, hide, or control in its update frequency when it appears alongside static content.
How to
Depending on your situation, you can implement one of the following options to meet the criterion. For a deeper dive, please refer to the linked WCAG techniques.
Content can be paused or hidden
If an animation lasts longer than five seconds, it must be possible to pause or completely hide it. For example, via a pause or close button. After being stopped, the animation must not start again automatically.
Technique(s):
- G4: Allowing the content to be paused and restarted from where it was paused
- G11: Creating content that blinks for less than 5 seconds
- G186: Using a control in the web page that stops moving, blinking, or auto-updating content
- G191: Providing a link, button, or other mechanism that reloads the page without any blinking content
Notes
Exception: Loading animations
Animations shown during loading phases do not need to be pausable, since users cannot interact during that time anyway (e.g., a loading screen).
Pausing such animations could confuse users or make them think the content has frozen or the connection has been lost.
Exception: Essential animations
Essential animations also do not need to be pausable.
Examples include a timer in an online test or prices that change automatically during an auction.
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