Delayed refresh under 20 hours must not be used
What is the problem?
The <meta http-equiv="refresh"> tag is used to automatically reload a web page after a specified time. This can disrupt the user experience, especially for users with cognitive disabilities or slow internet connections.
Impacted Groups
Why is this important?
Automatically refreshing a page can be disorienting and frustrating for users. It can interrupt tasks, lose focus, and prevent users from fully engaging with the content.
How to solve this issue
To improve accessibility, avoid using the <meta http-equiv="refresh"> tag for delayed refreshes. Instead, consider using JavaScript-based solutions that allow users to control the timing or frequency of refreshes, or provide clear visual indicators of when a page will refresh.
Rule Information
Rule ID
meta-refresh
Severity
Manual Review Required
Rule Group
WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA Rules
Guidelines
- WCAG 2.1 (A)
- WCAG 2.0 (A)
- WCAG 2.2 (A)
- Trusted Tester
- EN 301 549
Customise Guidance
You can customise each accessibility rule in SiteAlly with your own guidance, instructions and even links to your own organisation specific documentation.
Enable your website editors to resolve issues quickly with SiteAlly.
Ready to make your website accessible?
SiteAlly provides automated accessibility monitoring, detailed reports, and step-by-step guidance to help you achieve and maintain compliance.