- Success Criterion 3.3.3
- Conformance level AA
3.3.3 · Error Suggestion
Lesson overview · Error Suggestion
In plain language
Error messages should tell the user how to fix the problem, not just that one exists.
Who it affects
People with cognitive disabilities and anyone stalled by vague validation messages.
How to check
Trigger validation errors: each message should state what a correct entry looks like (format, range, options).
Common misconception
“Invalid entry” technically identifies that there's an error (satisfying 3.3.1) but fails this separate rule, which requires telling the user what a correct entry actually looks like.
Learn more
Scenarios in this lesson
- Rejected Input With No Guidance on How to Fix It
- Invalid Entry Message With No Hint at the Expected Format
- Rejected Date Entry With No Explanation of the Expected Format
- Rejected Password With No List of the Unmet Requirements
- Taken Username With No Suggested Alternatives Offered
- Rejected File Upload With No Stated Size or Type Limits
- Rejected Entry With No Suggested Near-Match From a Known List
- Correction Suggestions Wrongly Withheld From a Non-Security Field
- Error Suggestion Available Only as a Hover-Triggered Tooltip