2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A) — WCAG 2.1
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A): what it requires, a common e-commerce accessibility failure, and how to fix it.
This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
WCAG 2.1 guidelines hub → Operable → 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A)
What it requires: For any time limit set by the content, the user must be able to turn it off, adjust it, or extend it (with defined exceptions for real-time events, essential limits, and limits over 20 hours).
Common failure: A “your cart is reserved for 5 minutes” checkout timer expires and clears the cart with no warning and no way to extend it, even though checkout speed isn’t essential to the transaction itself.
Fix it: Warn the user before a session/reservation timer expires and offer a simple way to extend it (a “still shopping?” prompt with an extend button), rather than silently expiring.
In 2.2 Enough Time: 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide →
This is educational technical reference content, not legal advice. It explains what WCAG 2.1 requires and how to meet it — not whether a specific site carries legal risk. Compliance with WCAG, the ADA, or any other accessibility law or standard is a legal determination; consult qualified counsel for legal risk assessment.
This page was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person for accuracy before publication.