• Success Criterion 3.3.3
  • Conformance level AA

Rejected Date Entry With No Explanation of the Expected Format

3.3.3 — Error Suggestion

Scenario

Setting

A social media platform's settings menu

What’s wrong

Date rejected without stating accepted format/range.

Example 

<label for="birthday">Birthday</label>
<input id="birthday" value="02/30/2000">
<p role="alert">Date rejected.</p>

Why it matters

A user trying to correct their birthday has no idea if the problem is the format, an impossible date, or an age restriction.

How to test

Trigger a validation error where the format is known (date, phone): if the message doesn't state the accepted format, it fails.

How to fix

Name the specific rule that was broken, not just that the date failed.

<label for="birthday">Birthday (MM/DD/YYYY)</label>
<input id="birthday" value="02/30/2000" aria-describedby="birthday-error">
<p id="birthday-error" role="alert">February only has 28 or 29 days. Enter a valid date as MM/DD/YYYY.</p>

Outcome

The user corrects the day of the month and saves their birthday without further errors.

Who is affected

Screen reader users and people with cognitive disabilities who need the specific reason and accepted format stated in text.

Learn more

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