• Success Criterion 2.4.5
  • Conformance level AA

Deep Pages Reachable Only Through One Navigation Path

2.4.5 — Multiple Ways

Scenario

Setting

A hospital's patient portal appointment scheduler

What’s wrong

Deep pages reachable only by drilling one navigation path — no search, no sitemap, no index/related links.

Example 

<nav>
  <a href="/departments">Departments</a>
</nav>
<!-- Departments -> Cardiology -> Providers -> Dr. Chen -> Book Appointment -->
<!-- only path to Dr. Chen's booking page; no search, no direct link, no doctor shortcut -->

Why it matters

A returning patient who knows their doctor's name still has to click through four department levels to book again.

How to test

Map out the site's navigation: if deep pages are reachable only by drilling one single path with no search or sitemap, it fails.

How to fix

A search box or an index page both count as valid second ways under 2.4.5.

<nav>
  <a href="/departments">Departments</a>
</nav>
<input type="search" placeholder="Search by provider name" aria-label="Find a doctor">

Outcome

A patient searches Dr. Chen and books an appointment in two steps instead of five.

Who is affected

Patients with limited time, motor impairments, or memory difficulties are forced through one long navigation path every visit.

Learn more

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