When content moves (is animated, blinks or scrolls) automatically for more than five seconds, or when content automatically updates on the page, it must be possible for users to pause, stop or hide it. This ensures that people with cognitive disabilities that affect focus and concentration, are not distracted by movement.
Accessibility Requirements for 2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide (A)
- A mechanism is available that lets users pause, stop or hide the moving or updating content;
- Content does not move (animate, blink or scroll) for more than five seconds;
- Content does not update automatically.
Common mistakes for 2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide (A)
- Content moves for more than five seconds but there is no mechanism for a user to pause, stop or hide it.
Techniques for 2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide (A)
Common Failures for 2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide (A)
The following are common mistakes that are considered failures of Success Criterion 2.2.2 by the WCAG Working Group.
- F16: Failure of Success Criterion 2.2.2 due to including scrolling content where movement is not essential to the activity without also including a mechanism to pause and restart the content
- F47: Failure of Success Criterion 2.2.2 due to using the blink element
- F4: Failure of Success Criterion 2.2.2 due to using text-decoration:blink without a mechanism to stop it in less than five seconds
- F50: Failure of Success Criterion 2.2.2 due to a script that causes a blink effect without a mechanism to stop the blinking at 5 seconds or less
- F7: Failure of Success Criterion 2.2.2 due to an object or applet, such as Java or Flash, that has blinking content without a mechanism to pause the content that blinks for more than five seconds
FAQs for Pause, stop, hide (A)
What is the main Objective of Pause, stop, hide?
1.Ensure moving, blinking or scrolling content has a control to pause, stop or hide it.
2.Ensure auto-updating content has a control to pause, stop, hide or control the frequency of updates.
What are the Exceptions of Pause, stop, hide?
1.The moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content starts only by user request.
2.The moving, blinking, scrolling or auto-updating content is not presented in parallel with other content (for example, a full-page advert displayed before users reach your webpage).
3.The moving, blinking or scrolling content lasts less than five seconds.
4.The movement is essential (for example, an animation that shows users that something is loading, if it would otherwise look like your website was frozen).
Why is Pause, stop, hide important?
Many people find moving, blinking or scrolling content distracting.
People with cognitive impairments, particularly those with attention deficit disorders, may be particularly sensitive to moving, blinking or scrolling content.
Any content which moves or updates, can cause a problem for anyone who struggles to read text quickly, or finds it difficult to track moving objects.
Moving text can also cause problems for screen reader users, because the content can disappear, before the screen reader has had time to read it.
Related to Pause, stop, hide (A)
2.3.1 Three flashes or below (A)