4.1 Compatible · Robust
WCAG 4.1.3 Status Messages
Level AA
Status messages (search results updated, form saved) must be programmatically determinable so assistive tech can announce them without moving focus.
Common failures
- Toast notifications appear visually but aren't announced to screen readers.
- Live search results update without an `aria-live` region.
How to fix
- Use `role="status"` or `role="alert"` on update regions.
- Use `aria-live="polite"` for non-urgent updates, `assertive` for errors.
Related criteria
- WCAG 3.3.1 Error Identification Level A
- WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Level A