- Success Criterion 2.4.5
- Conformance level AA
Search Results Page That Can Only Be Reached via Search
2.4.5 — Multiple Ways
Scenario
Setting
A bank's mobile money-transfer screen
What’s wrong
Search results themselves unfindable except via search (dead-end architecture).
Example
During an audit of a bank's mobile money-transfer screen: search results themselves unfindable except via search (dead-end architecture).
Why it matters
People with cognitive or visual disabilities who prefer search, sitemaps, or alternate nav styles. The practical effect on a bank's mobile money-transfer screen: they can't tell how the page is organized.
How to test
Try to reach a search result page directly (e.g., via bookmark or shared link) without going through search again: if it's unfindable any other way, it's a dead end and fails.
How to fix
At least two working ways (navigation menu, search, sitemap, index) must exist to reach the content.
Outcome
That one change on a bank's mobile money-transfer screen means they navigate the content in a sensible order.
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
- Site Search That’s Broken or Doesn’t Index Most Pages
- Sitemap Link That Leads to an Empty or Outdated Page
- Sequential-Only Article Pagination With No Table of Contents
- Second Way to Navigate Available on Desktop but Not Mobile