- Success Criterion 3.3.4
- Conformance level AA
Timeout That Auto-Submits and Commits a Final Transaction
3.3.4 — Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)
Scenario
Setting
An online spreadsheet's toolbar
What’s wrong
Auto-submitting final steps on timeout (compound with 2.2.1) committing the transaction.
Example
A QA pass on an online spreadsheet's toolbar turns this up: auto-submitting final steps on timeout (compound with 2.2.1) committing the transaction.
Why it matters
Everyone in legal, financial, or data-changing flows — especially people prone to input mistakes. On an online spreadsheet's toolbar specifically, they lose their progress and have to start over.
How to test
Let a timed step expire: if it auto-submits and commits the transaction rather than warning first, it fails (also relevant to 2.2.1).
How to fix
The submission must be reversible, checked with a chance to correct, or confirmed through an editable review step.
Outcome
Fixed, a visitor to an online spreadsheet's toolbar can finish the task in one attempt.
Who is affected
Everyone in legal, financial, or data-changing flows — especially people prone to input mistakes.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Binding Purchase Submitted With No Review Step Beforehand
- One-Click Order Placed With No Chance to Review It First
- Permanent Data Deletion With No Confirmation or Undo
- Legal Commitment Submitted With No Review-and-Confirm Step
- Review Page That Isn’t Actually Editable Before Final Submission
- Financial Transfer Form That Never Confirms the Entered Details