checklist-en.md

The Web Quality Checklist (V3) is intended for all professionals who create websites. It is designed in a collaborative way by a community of Web professionals led by the French company Opquast (Open Quality Standards). The checklist is released under a creative Commons BY-SA license. The original version can be found at the following address: https://checklists.opquast.com/en/qualiteweb/

Alternatives

• 1. Each decorative image has an appropriate text alternative.
• 2. Each decorative image link has an appropriate text alternative.
• 3. Each information-carrying image has an appropriate text alternative.
• 4. Included objects have an appropriate text alternative.
• 5. Content managed by styles has an appropriate alternative.
• 6. Typographic symbols have an appropriate alternative.
• 7. All audio and video content is accompanied by a text transcription.
• 8. Information is not conveyed by color alone.
• 9. Audio captchas can be replayed at will.
• 10. Captchas are accompanied by an alternative access solution.

Code

• 11. Each page’s source code begins with a document type declaration (doctype or DTD), whose syntax is one of those recommended by W3C.
• 12. Each HTML ID is only used once per page.
• 13. Each page’s content is organized according to a hierarchical structure of headings and sub-headings.
• 14. The site does not force any redirects or auto-refreshes on the client side.
• 15. Dates are presented in an explicit format.
• 16. Navigation blocks are located in the same place in every page’s source code.
• 17. The character encoding is UTF-8.
• 18. Each page’s source code contains metadata that define the character set used.
• 19. Content that should be reproduced by screen readers is not hidden from them.
• 20. The content and meaning of each page are not altered when styles are disabled.
• 21. Elements that are visually displayed as lists are tagged in an appropriate way in the source code.
• 22. Text that can be formatted using styles is not replaced by images.
• 23. The first occurrence of an abbreviation or an acronym in the body of any page provides an explanation of its meaning.
• 24. Each page’s source code contains no elements that were misused for presentational purposes.
• 25. Each page's source code does not contain any presentational tag or attribute

Contact

• 26. The site provides at least one means of contact.
• 27. The site provides at least two means of contact.
• 28. Mail and phone information for companies’ and organizations’ local branches or headquarters are provided.
• 29. Every information request submitted produces an acknowledgment of receipt.
• 30. Response times are provided for information requests.
• 31. The data in the site’s WHOIS information allow users to connect it with its owner.

Contents

• 32. Each page provides a title that enables one to identify the site
• 33. Each page provides a title that enables one to identify its content
• 34. Advertisements and sponsored content are identified as such.
• 35. Information about copyrights and reuse rights can be accessed from every page.
• 36. The site provides a way for users to find out about new content and services.
• 37. If the site provides a personal space (or a subscriber space), personal content can be backed up in a standard format.
• 38. A lexicon or a glossary adapted to the target audience explains the industry-specific or technical vocabulary used.

E-Commerce

• 39. A product or service can be purchased without creating an account.
• 40. No additional products or services are added to the shopping cart without a customer action.
• 41. Product availability is shown before final order placement.
• 42. The estimated delivery date is shown before final order placement.
• 43. The method for retrieving a virtual item is explained before order placement.
• 44. Users can still modify each item’s quantity, and add or delete one or more items, as long as the order has not definitively been placed.
• 45. The nature and quantifiable characteristics of products and services are provided.
• 46. The period of validity and conditions of special offers and promotions are indicated.
• 47. The company’s or organization’s legal registration number, issued in its home country, is provided.

Public spaces

• 71. The site provides at least one means of contacting the moderator of public spaces.
• 72. Public spaces offer at least one way to report abuse.
• 73. The conditions for moderation of public spaces are explained.
• 74. Content and files intended for public spaces can be checked before upload.
• 75. Information intended for public spaces can be previewed in their final form.

Files and multimedia

• 76. The length of video and audio content is displayed.
• 77. The format of downloadable files is displayed.
• 78. The size of downloadable files is displayed.
• 79. The language of downloadable files is mentioned, if not the same as on the original page.
• 80. Animations, sounds and blinking can be paused.
• 81. Running animation does not block access to navigation or content.
• 82. Sound and video are launched by the user.
• 83. The text of internal PDF documents can be selected.
• 84. Internal PDF documents are given a structure based on headings.

Forms

• 85. In the source code, each field in the form is associated with a label that is specific to it.
• 86. Information supplementing a field’s label is associated with that field in the source code.
• 87. Each form field’s label indicates whether or not it is a required field.
• 88. Each form field’s label indicates the required data format, if any.
• 89. The user is warned whenever a field is case-sensitive.
• 90. There is an input error prevention mechanism for user password creation.
• 91. The characters entered in a password field can be displayed in clear text.
• 92. Every form label is visually attached to the field that it describes.
• 93. If any data entered in the form are rejected, the fields containing the rejected data are highlighted for the user.
• 94. If any data entered in the form are rejected, the reason(s) why are explained to the user.
• 95. If any data entered in the form are rejected, the user can change any of the input data.
• 96. For forms divided over several pages, an overall summary is displayed before the final version is submitted.
• 97. The page displayed after the form’s submission allows the user to return to their navigation directly.
• 98. Form submission is followed by a message indicating whether or not the action was successful.
• 99. Complex processes are accompanied by a list of their steps.
• 100. The current step in a complex process is indicated.
• 101. Each step in a complex process allows the user to go back to the previous step.
• 102. The user is warned that they will lose information if they go back using their browser’s history during a complex process.
• 103. Navigating through a complex process does not cause any previously-submitted data to be lost.
• 104. Copy-and-paste is possible in the form’s fields.
• 105. The items in a drop-down list are grouped together appropriately, where applicable.

Hyperlinks

• 107. Each link has a proper label in the source code.
• 108. Underlining cannot be used for elements other than hyperlinks.
• 109. Hyperlinks are visually differentiated from the rest of the content.
• 110. The site applies a different style to visited and unvisited links.
• 111. The site does not prohibit or restrict incoming links.
• 112. Hovering over, or activating, hyperlinks does not alter the page layout.
• 113. Hyperlinks of the same nature have identical colors, shapes and behaviors on all pages.
• 114. All hyperlinks internal to the site are valid.
• 115. Each hyperlink’s label describes either its function or the nature of its target.
• 116. Consecutive hyperlinks are separated visually.
• 117. Internal and external hyperlinks are differentiated.

Identification

• 118. The identity of the author, the company or the organization is provided.
• 119. The identity of the person or the service responsible for the content is provided.
• 120. The homepage explains the nature of the content and services on offer.
• 121. The name of the website and/or its author is displayed on every page.
• 122. If the site is reserved or intended for a specific audience, that audience is mentioned, at least on the homepage.
• 123. The complete address and phone number of companies and organizations can be reached from all of the site’s pages.
• 124. The site’s root contains instructions for web crawlers.
• 125. Each page’s source code contains metadata that describe the content.
• 126. The source code of the pages contains a valid call to a favourite icon (“favicon”)
• 127. The extension used is consistent with the entity’s identity, activities, geographical area or domain name.
• 128. The website provides a sitemap file listing the content to be crawled.
• 129. If the site claims to adhere to one or more standards or guidelines, a link is provided to each of them.

Internationalization

• 130. The country code is provided for all phone numbers
• 131. The country is mentioned for all mailing addresses.
• 132. Each page’s source code specifies the content’s main language.
• 133. The main language of a link’s target page is provided, if different from the original page.
• 134. Each language change is indicated.
• 135. Links to translated versions point directly to the current page’s translation.
• 136. Links to equivalent versions of a page or site are written in the target language.

Mobile

• 137. The server does not force redirects from the desktop version to the mobile version.
• 138. Users can switch between the website’s mobile and desktop versions from each page.
• 139. The website does not block the browser’s zoom functionalities.
• 140. JavaScript alerts and modal pop-up windows inviting the user to install a mobile app only appear once each session.
• 141. The promotion of a mobile app does not use either JavaScript alerts or modal pop-up windows.
• 142. The website offers one or more mechanisms for adapting to mobile devices.
• 143. Email, URL, telephone, number, search, password, and date and time input fields are assigned an appropriate type.
• 144. Phone numbers can be enabled using the appropriate protocol.

Navigation

• 145. Each iframe has its own description.
• 146. The site does not use framesets.
• 147. It is possible to go back to the homepage from any page.
• 148. The user is warned before new windows are opened.
• 149. Navigating the website does not open any po-up windows.
• 150. Mechanisms for closing windows are visually attached to their content.
• 151. Mechanisms for closing windows are immediately available.
• 152. New windows that are specially sized and modal windows are all equipped with explicit close buttons.
• 153. Mechanisms for closing windows are shown in the same location on every page.
• 154. The site does not resize the browser window.
• 155. Keyboard focus has not been removed or masked.
• 156. The site can be navigated in its entirety using only a keyboard.
• 157. Keyboard navigation is set up in a predictable order.
• 158. The site does not contain any links to pages under construction.
• 159. Each page displays information as to where it is located in the site’s tree structure.
• 160. The site offers an internal search engine.
• 161. The search result page indicates the number of results, the number of pages of results, and the number of results per page.
• 162. Each search result page can be reached by means of a web address.
• 163. The site map can be reached from every page.
• 164. Navigation blocks of the same nature are in the same place on every page.
• 165. Navigation icons are provided with explicit legends.
• 166. Links to external software have an explicit label.
• 167. If the site is not restricted to a specific public, its content can be accessed directly.
• 168. Each page provides skip links at the beginning of its source code.

Newsletter

• 169. An unsubscribe link is provided in each newsletter.
• 170. Unsubscribing from within the newsletter does not require email confirmation.
• 171. Subscribing to newsletters is subject to a confirmation process.
• 172. It is possible to unsubscribe from newsletters from the website.
• 173. The latest edition of the newsletter is available online.
• 174. Newsletter archives are available online.
• 175. The newsletters’ frequency can be found before subscribing.

Presentation

• 176. The design is consistent throughout the site.
• 177. The display font size is expressed in variable units, not fixed units.
• 178. The site provides at least one style sheet for printing.
• 179. The content of each page can be printed without navigation blocks.
• 180. A generic font family is listed as the last alternative in font family lists.
• 181. Content is presented with sufficient contrast to its background.
• 182. Words are capitalized for decorative purposes by means of styles.
• 183. Styles do not justify the text.
• 184. Content is only designated by its shape or its position on the screen.

Security and privacy

• 185. The identity of third-parties involved in transactions is provided
• 186. The privacy and confidentiality policy can be reached from any page.
• 187. The site provides a way to reinitialise a password if it's lost, stolen or forgotten
• 188. Passwords can be chosen and changed by the user
• 189. User passwords allow graphic characters from the ASCII table.
• 190. A mechanism raises the user's awareness regarding their password's level of security
• 191. Security certificates are signed and currently valid
• 192. Sensitive data are not transmitted literally through URLs
• 193. Sensitive data are securely transmitted and signalled as such
• 194. The headers sent by the server disable automatic detection of each resource’s MIME type.
• 195. The server indicates each resource’s MIME type.
• 196. Information relative to transaction security are provided
• 197. The aim of using cookies, as well as the consequences of refusing them, are explained
• 198. The process of accessing and modifying personal data is explained
• 199. Account creation is subject to a confirmation process.
• 200. Accounts can be created without the need to use a third-party identification system.
• 201. Accounts and subscriptions opened online can be closed online
• 202. The server does not list files in folders that do not have index files
• 203. The server sends activation information for protection against cross-site scripting.
• 204. The server sends information that indicates which domains are allowed to embed its pages in frames
• 205. The website offers a security mechanism that limits the sources of its content.

Server and performance

• 206. The server sends information to enable the caching of contents
• 207. The server sends a 404 HTTP error code for resources not found
• 208. The server sends a personalised 404 Not found error page
• 209. The server sends a personalized 403 “Forbidden” error page.
• 210. The main navigation menu is displayed on personalized error pages.
• 211. The server compresses contents if the client accepts compressed contents
• 212. Headers sent by the server contain information pertaining to the character set used
• 213. The server respects the preferential order of languages specified in user agents
• 214. Style sheets are minified
• 215. Scripts are minified
• 216. Script functions are put into external files
• 217. The address of the site and of its subdomains works with and without a www prefix

Syndication

• 218. The source code of syndication feeds indicates their update frequency
• 219. Syndication feeds can be detected by user agents
• 220. Hyperlinks in syndication feeds are absolute
• 221. The site provides at least one link to each syndication feed

Tables

• 222. Cells in data tables are linked to their headers
• 223. Captions for data tables are provided
• 224. Linearising tables used for layout does not impede the understanding of contents
• 225. Data tables are not replaced by images.
• 226. Data tables are not simulated through styled text