• Success Criterion 3.3.4
  • Conformance level AA

Confirmation Dialog That Never Shows What’s Being Confirmed

3.3.4 — Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)

Scenario

Setting

A weather app's forecast screen

What’s wrong

"Confirm" dialog that doesn't display the data being confirmed (rubber-stamp confirm ≠ checked).

Example 

function onDeleteAlert() {
  if (confirm('Are you sure?')) {
    deleteAlert(alertId);
  }
}

Why it matters

A user managing alerts for five cities can't tell from 'Are you sure?' which city's alert is about to be deleted.

How to test

Trigger the 'Confirm' dialog: if it doesn't display the actual data being confirmed (a rubber-stamp confirm with no specifics), it fails.

How to fix

Always name the specific item being acted on inside the confirmation text, never a generic yes/no prompt.

function onDeleteAlert() {
  if (confirm('Delete the severe weather alert for Denver, CO?')) {
    deleteAlert(alertId);
  }
}

Outcome

The user confirms deleting the right city's alert and keeps the other four intact.

Who is affected

Screen reader users and people with cognitive disabilities who need the specific item named to confirm they're deleting the right thing.

Learn more

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