WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2 is the W3C accessibility standard published October 2023 that adds 9 success criteria to WCAG 2.1, focused on focus visibility, target size, dragging alternatives, and accessible authentication.
Detailed explanation
WCAG 2.2 introduced 9 new success criteria. Level AA additions are 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum), 2.5.7 Dragging Movements, 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum), 3.2.6 Consistent Help, 3.3.7 Redundant Entry, and 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum).
WCAG 2.2 deprecated 4.1.1 Parsing — the only criterion ever removed from a WCAG version. The 2.2 update is fully backward-compatible with 2.1 except for the parsing change. The European Accessibility Act and the EU EN 301 549 v3.2.1 reference WCAG 2.1; updates referencing 2.2 are anticipated through the EU harmonized standards process.
How this applies to Shopify stores
WCAG 2.2 is relevant to Shopify patterns such as small touch targets, drag-only controls, repeated entry, and authentication. AccessComply can report findings from selected automated WCAG 2.2-mapped rules; manual evaluation is required for the remaining criteria and contextual exceptions.
What merchants should check next
Treat this term as a practical audit prompt, not just a definition. Check the storefront pages where the concept shows up in real customer journeys: product discovery, add-to-cart, cart drawer, checkout handoff, account login, and support contact flows. If the issue affects code, verify the rendered HTML and computed browser output after the theme change. If it affects copy or media, keep the merchant-facing wording accurate and easy to maintain.
Primary source: w3.org