Polypane and WCAG

 Latest update: 30 January 2026

In Polypane you can fully check websites on WCAG (Web Content Accssibility Guidelines). Polypane extra assists you with checking almost 50% of WCAG level AA success criteria. This is a quick reference, knowledge of WCAG and how to test is necessary.

So next to developers and designers, Polypane might be loved by accessibility auditors. An all-in-one tool to help you do your audits quicker. I have updated this documentation to WCAG 2.2 and Polypane version 27.1. If you have something useful that I have missed or if there are new accessibility-related features in Polypane then please send me a message.

Quick reference checking accessibility with Polypane

  • devtools button = Devtools
  • debug button = Debug tools
  • color picker button = Color picker button (Shift Alt P)
Success Criterion Polypane support Manual check needed Usage
Overall Polypane assistance yes yes
  • Devtool - Info - Accessibility - Analyse page...
  • Devtool - Info - Outline - Accessibility tree
  • Debug tools - Accessibility:show roles
  • Debug tools - Accessibility:show ARIA attributes
  • Debug tools - Accessibility:A11y.css
  • Devtool - Info - Outline - Forms
1.1.1 Non-text Content yes some
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Images
  • Debug tools - Disable images
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) N/A
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) N/A
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) N/A
1.2.4 Captions (Live) N/A
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) N/A
1.3.1 Info and Relationships partly yes
  • Open Devtools panel -
    • Info - Outline - Headings
    • Info - Outline - Forms
  • and many more features in Polypane
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence yes yes Debug tools - Disable CSS
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics N/A
1.3.4 Orientation yes some Rotate pane or
Change pane width and height manually
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose yes yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Forms: For each input field open Details to view autocomplete
1.4.1 Use of Color partly yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Links - Show overlay: to discover badly recognisable links in texts
1.4.2 Audio Control N/A
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) yes yes
  • Debug - Accessibility: Contrast checker
  • Color picker (Shift Alt P)
1.4.4 Resize text yes yes
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Meta - Viewport
  • Set pane size to 1280 x 1024 px
    In Main menu: View - Zoom web pages - Zoom Page in (to 200%)
1.4.5 Images of Text yes yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Images
1.4.10 Reflow yes yes
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Meta - Viewport
  • Set pane size to 1280 x 1024 px
    In Main menu: View - Zoom web pages - Zoom Page in (to 400%)
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast yes some
  • Color picker (Shift Alt P)
  • Debug tools - Accessibility: Contrast checker
1.4.12 Text Spacing yes yes Debug tools - Accessibility: Text spacing
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus N/A
2.1.1 Keyboard partly yes When focus is hard to follow:
Debug tools - Track focus
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap partly yes When focus is hard to follow:
Debug tools - Track focus
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts N/A
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable N/A
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide N/A
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold N/A
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks partly yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Links
2.4.2 Page Titled yes some view Tab name, or
Open Devtools panel - Info - Meta - Site information
2.4.3 Focus Order partly yes
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Focus order - Show overlay
  • When focus is hard to follow:
    Debug tools - Accessibility:Track focus
  • Debug tools - Accessibility:Apply all focus styling
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) yes yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Links
2.4.5 Multiple Ways N/A
2.4.6 Headings and Labels N/A
2.4.7 Focus Visible N/A
2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) N/A
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures N/A
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation N/A
2.5.3 Label in Name yes yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Outline - Images
2.5.4 Motion Actuation N/A
2.5.7 Dragging Movements N/A
2.5.8 Target Size yes some Debug tools - Accessibility:target size:24px (AA)
3.1.1 Language of Page yes yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Meta - Language
3.1.2 Language of Parts partly yes Open Devtools panel - Edit - Devtools - Elements
For instance search for "lang" in code.
3.2.1 On Focus N/A
3.2.2 On Input N/A
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation N/A
3.2.4 Consistent Identification N/A
3.2.6 Consistent Help N/A
3.2.7 Redundant Entry N/A
3.3.1 Error Identification N/A
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions N/A
3.3.3 Error Suggestion N/A
3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) N/A
3.3.7 Redundant Entry N/A
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) N/A
4.1.1 Parsing (obsolete) partly yes Open Devtools panel - Info - Source
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value partly yes
  • Hover over element, press Alt
  • Debug - Accessibility:Show roles
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Source
  • Open Devtools panel - Edit - Devtools - Elements - Accessibility
  • Open Devtools panel - Edit - Elements - A11y (in last devtools pane)
4.1.3 Status Messages partly yes
  • Open Devtools panel - Info - Source
  • Open Devtools panel - Edit - Devtools - Elements - Accessibility

Polypane's other accessibility features

  • Readability
  • Color blindness emulator
  • High contrast mode
  • Tota11y
  • Accessibility panel (check with Axe is built-in) and a11y.css
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Reduced motion
  • and more, and hopefully more to come...

Resources