- Success Criterion 2.4.5
- Conformance level AA
Site Search That’s Broken or Doesn’t Index Most Pages
2.4.5 — Multiple Ways
Scenario
Setting
An e-book reader's library page
What’s wrong
Site search exists but is broken/never indexes most pages (only nominal second way).
Example
<!-- Only path to any page: the main nav menu -->Why it matters
People with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search, sitemaps, or alternate nav styles.
How to test
Use the site search for several known terms: if results are broken, incomplete, or the index misses most pages, it's not a genuine second way and fails.
How to fix
At least two working ways (navigation menu, search, sitemap, index) must exist to reach the content.
<nav><!-- main menu --></nav><input type="search" aria-label="Search the site">At least two ways to find a page — search, a site map, or navigable landmarks — give users options beyond one fixed menu.
Outcome
On an e-book reader's library page, this barrier is gone for people with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search — they can finish what they came here to do.
Who is affected
People with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search, sitemaps, or alternate nav styles.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Website With No Real Second Way to Find Content
- Deep Pages Reachable Only Through One Navigation Path
- Sitemap Link That Leads to an Empty or Outdated Page
- Sequential-Only Article Pagination With No Table of Contents
- Search Results Page That Can Only Be Reached via Search
- Second Way to Navigate Available on Desktop but Not Mobile