WCAG 4.1.3: Status Messages
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What's it about?
Status messages must be implemented so that screen readers announce them automatically without shifting focus. This allows screen reader users to immediately learn about changes or the result of an action without having to search for the message.
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.
Status messages are understandable for screen readers
With ARIA live regions, you can automatically announce status messages to screen readers without moving the focus.
Use
aria-live="polite"for non-urgent information (e.g., “Item added to cart”) andaria-live="assertive"for important messages that need to reach the user immediately (e.g., an error message when submitting a form).Polite is generally the safer choice to avoid interruptions. Make sure the live region contains only the essential text, avoiding unnecessary details.
Example:
<div aria-live="polite">Your changes have been saved</div>Technique(s):
- ARIA22: Using role=status to present status messages
- ARIA19: Using ARIA role=alert or Live Regions to Identify Errors
- G199: Providing success feedback when data is submitted successfully
- G84: Providing a text description when the user provides information that is not in the list of allowed values
- G85: Providing a text description when user input falls outside the required format or values
Notes
Exception: Error message via dialog
Status messages should not move the focus. However, an exception applies to error messages that appear in a dialog window. In this case, the focus may be moved directly into the dialog so that users can immediately perceive the message and react.
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