Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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# G4: Allowing the content to be paused and restarted from where it was paused

## Applicability

Any technology that includes moving or scrolling content.

This technique relates to:

- Success Criterion 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide)
  - How to Meet 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide)
  - Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide)

## Description

The objective of this technique is to provide a way to pause movement or scrolling of content. If the user needs to pause the movement, to reduce distraction or to have time to read it, they can do so, and then restart it as needed. This mechanism can be provided either through interactive controls that conform to WCAG or through keyboard shortcuts. If keyboard shortcuts are used, they are documented.

## Examples

- A site contains a scrolling news banner at the top of the page. Users who need more time to read it can press the Escape key to pause the scrolling. Pressing Escape again restarts it.

- A Web page contains a link labeled "How to tie a shoe" which links to a Flash animation. Text immediately preceding the link informs the user that pressing the spacebar will pause the animation and restart it again.

## Related Techniques

- G75: Providing a mechanism to postpone any updating of content
- G76: Providing a mechanism to request an update of the content instead of updating automatically
- G186: Using a control in the Web page that stops moving, blinking, or auto-updating content
- SCR33: Using script to scroll content, and providing a mechanism to pause it

## Tests

### Procedure

On a page with moving or scrolling content,

1. Use the mechanism provided in the Web page or by the user agent to pause the moving or scrolling content.

2. Check that the moving or scrolling has stopped and does not restart by itself.

3. Use the mechanism provided to restart the moving content.

4. Check that the movement or scrolling has resumed from the point where it was stopped.

### Expected Results

- #2 and #4 are true.

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