Understandable · Level AA · Introduced in WCAG 2.0
WCAG 3.2.4: Consistent Identification
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
What this criterion means
Components with the same functionality in a page set should be identified consistently. Consistent labels and recognizable indicators let users transfer what they learned from one page to another.
A practical example
The same support action is called “Ask us,” “Help desk” and “Open assistance” on three templates. Use a consistent identification scheme while preserving distinctions between genuinely different functions.
How to check it
- Inventory repeated actions and components across representative templates.
- Compare their visible labels, accessible names and meaningful icons.
- Resolve inconsistent identification for equivalent functions and ensure different actions are not misleadingly given the same name.
What can be missed
Consistency does not require identical text for every link. “Download invoice” and “Download statement” can consistently identify the same kind of action while describing different objects.
Record your test
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These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.