Understanding WCAG 3.0: Key Changes From WCAG 2

The W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 are being developed to provide clearer, more flexible guidance for making digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Like WCAG 2, the new guidelines will aim to support users with a wide range of needs, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, limited mobility and dexterity, speech disabilities, sensory sensitivities, and cognitive or learning disabilities.

WCAG 3.0 applies across the digital landscape: desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, wearable technology, and Web of Things devices. It also covers a wide range of content, including static pages, interactive applications, streaming media, virtual and augmented reality, and alternative input and output methods. In addition, the guidelines extend beyond content itself, addressing related tools such as browsers, assistive technologies, content management systems, authoring tools, and accessibility testing tools. 

WCAG 3.0 vs. WCAG 2: What’s the difference?

WCAG 3.0 builds on WCAG 2, but it does not replace it. WCAG 2, which includes WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2, remains the globally adopted standard and will continue to be referenced in laws and regulations for many years to come. WCAG 3.0 is a newer framework designed to address gaps in WCAG 2 and better reflect how people actually use digital products today.

One noticeable change is the scope. WCAG 3.0 includes more requirements than WCAG 2. This is intentional:

• The goal is to be as inclusive as possible at this stage of development.
• The requirements are more granular, breaking accessibility down into smaller, more specific components.

What’s new in WCAG 3.0?

From A/AA/AAA to Bronze, Silver, and Gold

One of the potential changes is the shift from A, AA, and AAA conformance levels to Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Bronze is the minimum level of conformance. Content that does not meet Bronze requirements does not conform to WCAG 3.0. This level establishes a baseline set of outcomes that address the most critical accessibility barriers and improve equity across functional needs.

Silver encourages organizations to go beyond the minimum. It recognizes stronger accessibility practices, including deeper coverage of user needs and greater investment in usability and inclusive design. Silver is intended for teams that want to demonstrate meaningful progress, not just basic compliance.

Gold represents exemplary accessibility. It highlights organizations that meet Silver requirements and go further, serving as role models through advanced, innovative, and forward-looking accessibility practices.

Scoring instead of pass/fail

WCAG 2 relies on a binary system: a criterion either passes or fails. WCAG 3.0 introduces scoring, often on a scale, to show how well a requirement is met.

This allows for partial compliance and nuance. Instead of treating accessibility as all-or-nothing, teams can see progress over time and prioritize improvements more realistically.

Atomic tests and holistic evaluation

WCAG 2 focuses heavily on atomic tests. These are modular, standalone evaluations that focus on specific elements such as buttons, forms, images, or navigation components. Their purpose is to ensure that each individual part of an interface meets accessibility requirements. There are various benefits of atomic testing:

• Precision and clarity. Provides clear, actionable feedback on specific accessibility issues.
• Prioritization. Helps teams identify and fix the most impactful barriers first.
• Consistency. Ensures accessibility standards are applied uniformly across a product.
• Scalability. Works equally well for single pages or large, complex websites.

Though atomic tests remain a core part of WCAG 3.0, they are not enough on their own. Accessibility must also be evaluated in context, specifically how real users experience and navigate the product as a whole. 

WCAG 3.0 adds holistic evaluation into the mix. This means overall usability matters more. Testing with real people with disabilities becomes a critical part of accessibility assessment, not just automated accessibility tools or technical checklists.

Stronger focus on cognitive and learning disabilities

WCAG 3.0 places much greater emphasis on cognitive and learning accessibility, an area that has historically been underrepresented. New guidance addresses topics such as:

• Clear and understandable language
• Reducing cognitive load
• Consistent navigation and layouts

As a result, accessibility is no longer just a developer concern. Designers, content creators, and UX teams play a central role in meeting WCAG 3.0 expectations.

The bottom line

WCAG 3.0 moves accessibility beyond compliance and toward usability. By introducing scoring, broader inclusion, and a stronger focus on real user experiences, it encourages teams to think of accessibility as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time requirement.

Although WCAG 2 will remain the primary standard for legal compliance, WCAG 3.0 provides a forward-looking framework. Organizations that begin adopting their mindset today will be better equipped to build inclusive, resilient digital products in the future.