Consistent Identification
Components that have the same functionality within a set of web pages are identified consistently.
What it means
The intent of this success criterion is to ensure consistent identification of functional components that appear repeatedly within a set of web pages. A strategy that people who use screen readers use when operating a website is to rely heavily on their familiarity with functions that may appear on different web pages. If identical functions have different labels (or, more generally, a different accessible name ) on different web pages, the site will be considerably more difficult to use. It may also be confusing and increase the cognitive load for people with cognitive limitations. Therefore, consistent labeling will help. This consistency extends to the text alternatives. If icons or other non-text items have the same functionality, then their text alternatives should be consistent as well. If there are two components on a web page that both have the same functionality as a component on another page in a set of web pages, then all 3 must be consistent. Hence the two on the same page will be consistent. While it is desirable and best practice always to be consistent within a single web page, 3.2.4 Consistent Identification only addresses consistency within a set of web pages where something is repeated on more than one page in the set.
Failing example
<!-- Fails: same search button labeled differently across pages -->
<!-- Header: <button>Find</button> -->
<!-- Results page: <button>Search</button> -->
<!-- Mobile nav: <button>Go</button> -->How to fix it
<!-- Pass: consistent label for the same action -->
<button type="submit" aria-label="Search">Search</button>
<!-- Same label used on every page where this button appears -->How A11yRisk detects this
A11yRisk detects this criterion automatically.
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