Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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# F33: Failure of Success Criterion 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 due to using white space characters to create multiple columns in plain text content

## Applicability

All technologies.

This failure relates to:

- Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
  - How to Meet 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
  - Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
- Success Criterion 1.3.2 (Meaningful Sequence)
  - How to Meet 1.3.2 (Meaningful Sequence)
  - Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.2 (Meaningful Sequence)

## Description

The objective of this technique is to describe how using white space characters, such as space, tab, line break, or carriage return, to format columns of data in text content is a failure to use structure properly. Assistive technologies will interpret content in the reading order of the current language. Using white space characters to create multiple columns does not provide the information in a natural reading order. Thus, the assistive technology user will not be presented with the information in an understandable manner.

Plain text is not suitable for displaying multiple columns of text. Modify the content to present the data in a different layout. Alternatively, use a technology that provides structural elements to represent columnar data.

## Examples

### Failure Example 1

The following example incorrectly uses white space characters to format a paragraph into a two column format.

Example Code:

    Web Content Accessibility Guidelines      including blindness and low vision,
    2.0 (WCAG 2.0) covers a wide range of     deafness and hearing loss, learning
    issues and recommendations for making     difficulties, cognitive limitations, limited
    Web content more accessible. This         movement, speech difficulties, and
    document contains principles,             others. Following these guidelines will
    guidelines, Success Criteria, benefits,   also make your Web content more
    and examples that define and explain      accessible to the vast majority of users,
    the requirements for making Web-based     including older users. It will also enable
    information and applications accessible.  people to access Web content using
    "Accessible" means usable to a wide       many different devices - including a
    range of people with disabilities,        wide variety of assistive technologies.

If this table was to be interpreted and spoken by a screen reader it would speak the following lines:

- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines including blindness and low vision,

- 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) covers a wide range of deafness and hearing loss, learning

- issues and recommendations for making difficulties, cognitive limitations, limited

- Web content more accessible. This movement, speech difficulties, and

- (additional lines eliminated for brevity)

If the text were reflowed, or changed from a fixed to a variable font, or increased in size until lines no longer fit on the page, similar interpretation issues would arise in the visual presentation.

## Resources

No resources available for this technique.

## Related Techniques

(none currently listed)

## Tests

### Procedure

1. Examine the document for data or information presented in columnar format.

2. Check whether the columns are created using white space characters to lay out the information.

### Expected Results

- If step #2 is true, then this failure condition applies and the content fails these Success Criteria.

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