TYPO3 Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA) Skill

TYPO3 Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA)

Source: https://github.com/dirnbauer/webconsulting-skills

Compatibility: TYPO3 v14.x only. Older cores are out of scope for this collection.

TYPO3 API First: Always use TYPO3's built-in APIs, Fluid ViewHelpers, and core features before adding custom markup. Verify methods exist in TYPO3 v14.

PHP & JS over TypoScript: This skill provides PHP middleware, Fluid partials, and vanilla JavaScript solutions. TypoScript examples are avoided; use PHP-based approaches.

1. Accessibility Checklist (Go-Live Gate)

Run through this checklist before every deployment. Mark items as you fix them.

Semantic Structure

[ ] Every page has exactly one <h1>
[ ] Heading hierarchy is sequential (h1 > h2 > h3, no skips)
[ ] Landmark elements used: <main>, <nav>, <header>, <footer>, <aside>
[ ] Skip-to-content link is the first focusable element
[ ] <html lang="..."> matches page language
[ ] Language changes within content use lang attribute on containing element

Images & Media

[ ] All <img> have alt attribute (empty alt="" for decorative)
[ ] All <img> have explicit width and height (prevents CLS)
[ ] Complex images (charts, infographics) have long description
[ ] Videos have captions/subtitles
[ ] Audio content has transcript
[ ] No auto-playing media with sound

Color & Contrast

[ ] Text contrast >= 4.5:1 (normal) / 3:1 (large text >= 24px / 18.66px bold)
[ ] UI components and graphical objects >= 3:1 contrast
[ ] Information not conveyed by color alone (add icon, text, or pattern)
[ ] Dark mode (if implemented) maintains contrast ratios

Keyboard & Focus

[ ] All interactive elements reachable via Tab
[ ] Focus order matches visual order
[ ] Visible focus indicator on all interactive elements (:focus-visible)
[ ] No focus traps (except modals — which must trap correctly)
[ ] Escape closes modals/overlays and returns focus to trigger
[ ] Custom widgets have correct keyboard handlers

Forms

[ ] Every input has a programmatic <label> (explicit for/id or wrapping)
[ ] Placeholder is not used as sole label
[ ] Required fields indicated visually and with required attribute
[ ] Error messages linked to inputs via aria-describedby + aria-invalid
[ ] Form groups use <fieldset> + <legend>
[ ] Correct type and autocomplete attributes on inputs

ARIA & Dynamic Content

[ ] Icon-only buttons have aria-label
[ ] Decorative icons have aria-hidden="true"
[ ] Dynamic updates use aria-live="polite" or role="status"
[ ] Error alerts use role="alert"
[ ] Active navigation links have aria-current="page"
[ ] Expandable elements use aria-expanded

Motion & Interaction

[ ] prefers-reduced-motion respected (CSS and JS)
[ ] No content flashes more than 3 times per second
[ ] Touch targets meet WCAG 2.2 AA 2.5.8 (minimum 24×24 CSS pixels); use 44×44 as a stricter comfort target where feasible
[ ] user-scalable=no is NOT set in viewport meta

TYPO3-Specific

[ ] Backend: alt text fields are filled for all images in File List
[ ] Backend: content elements have descriptive headers (or header_layout = 100 for hidden)
[ ] Backend: page properties have proper <title> and description
[ ] Fluid templates use <f:link.page> / <f:link.typolink> (not <a> with manual hrefs)
[ ] Content Block / Content Element templates follow accessible patterns below

2. Fluid Template Patterns

2.1 Page Layout with Landmarks

<!-- EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Layouts/Default.html -->
<!-- Layout files must NOT contain <f:layout> — that tag belongs in Templates to select a layout. -->
<f:render section="Main" />

<!-- EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Templates/Default.html -->
<f:layout name="Default" />
<f:section name="Main">

<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">
    <f:translate key="LLL:EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:skip_to_content" />
</a>

<header>
    <!-- Main nav landmark lives in the partial (e.g. MainMenu.html) to avoid nested <nav>. -->
    <f:cObject typoscriptObjectPath="lib.mainNavigation" />
</header>

<main id="main-content">
    <f:render section="Content" />
</main>

<footer>
    <nav aria-label="{f:translate(key: 'LLL:EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:nav.footer')}">
        <f:cObject typoscriptObjectPath="lib.footerNavigation" />
    </nav>
</footer>

</f:section>

2.2 Skip Link CSS

.skip-link {
    position: absolute;
    top: -100%;
    left: 0;
    z-index: 10000;
    padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;
    background: var(--color-primary, #2563eb);
    color: var(--color-on-primary, #fff);
    font-weight: 600;
    text-decoration: none;
}
.skip-link:focus {
    top: 0;
}

2.3 Accessible Image Rendering

<!-- Partial: Resources/Private/Partials/Media/Image.html -->
<f:if condition="{image}">
    <figure>
        <f:image
            image="{image}"
            alt="{image.alternative}"
            title="{image.title}"
            width="{dimensions.width}"
            height="{dimensions.height}"
            loading="{f:if(condition: lazyLoad, then: 'lazy', else: 'eager')}"
            additionalAttributes="{decoding: 'async'}"
        />
        <f:if condition="{image.description}">
            <figcaption>{image.description}</figcaption>
        </f:if>
    </figure>
</f:if>

For decorative images (no informational value):

<f:image image="{image}" alt="" />

2.4 Accessible Content Element Wrapper

<!-- Partial: Resources/Private/Partials/ContentElement/Header.html -->
<f:if condition="{data.header} && {data.header_layout} != '100'">
    <f:switch expression="{data.header_layout}">
        <f:case value="1"><h1>{data.header}</h1></f:case>
        <f:case value="2"><h2>{data.header}</h2></f:case>
        <f:case value="3"><h3>{data.header}</h3></f:case>
        <f:case value="4"><h4>{data.header}</h4></f:case>
        <f:case value="5"><h5>{data.header}</h5></f:case>
        <f:defaultCase><h2>{data.header}</h2></f:defaultCase>
    </f:switch>
</f:if>

2.5 Accessible Navigation Partial

<!-- Partial: Resources/Private/Partials/Navigation/MainMenu.html -->
<nav aria-label="{f:translate(key: 'LLL:EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:nav.main')}">
    <!-- role="list" restores list semantics in Safari/VoiceOver when list-style:none strips native list role -->
    <ul role="list">
        <f:for each="{menu}" as="item">
            <li>
                <f:if condition="{item.active}">
                    <f:then>
                        <a href="{item.link}" aria-current="page">{item.title}</a>
                    </f:then>
                    <f:else>
                        <a href="{item.link}">{item.title}</a>
                    </f:else>
                </f:if>

                <f:if condition="{item.children}">
                    <ul>
                        <f:for each="{item.children}" as="child">
                            <li>
                                <a href="{child.link}"
                                   {f:if(condition: child.active, then: 'aria-current="page"')}>
                                    {child.title}
                                </a>
                            </li>
                        </f:for>
                    </ul>
                </f:if>
            </li>
        </f:for>
    </ul>
</nav>

2.6 Accessible Accordion (Content Blocks / Custom CE)

<div class="accordion" data-accordion>
    <f:for each="{items}" as="item" iteration="iter">
        <div class="accordion__item">
            <!-- Use role="heading" + aria-level so level matches page outline (pass headingLevel 2–6 from CE). -->
            <div role="heading" aria-level="{f:if(condition: headingLevel, then: headingLevel, else: '3')}">
                <button
                    type="button"
                    class="accordion__trigger"
                    aria-expanded="false"
                    aria-controls="accordion-panel-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                    id="accordion-header-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                    data-accordion-trigger
                >
                    {item.header}
                </button>
            </div>
            <div
                id="accordion-panel-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                role="region"
                aria-labelledby="accordion-header-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                class="accordion__panel"
                hidden
            >
                <f:format.html>{item.bodytext}</f:format.html>
            </div>
        </div>
    </f:for>
</div>

2.7 Accessible Tab Component

<div class="tabs" data-tabs>
    <div role="tablist" aria-label="{f:translate(key: 'tabs.label')}">
        <f:for each="{items}" as="item" iteration="iter">
            <button
                type="button"
                role="tab"
                id="tab-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                aria-controls="tabpanel-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
                aria-selected="{f:if(condition: iter.isFirst, then: 'true', else: 'false')}"
                tabindex="{f:if(condition: iter.isFirst, then: '0', else: '-1')}"
            >
                {item.header}
            </button>
        </f:for>
    </div>

    <f:for each="{items}" as="item" iteration="iter">
        <div
            role="tabpanel"
            id="tabpanel-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
            aria-labelledby="tab-{data.uid}-{iter.index}"
            tabindex="0"
            {f:if(condition: iter.isFirst, then: '', else: 'hidden')}
        >
            <f:format.html>{item.bodytext}</f:format.html>
        </div>
    </f:for>
</div>

Detailed Reference

Read the full guide when the task needs detailed examples, long templates, troubleshooting matrices, appendices, or sections not included above. Keep this file unloaded for narrow tasks so the skill follows progressive disclosure.

Agent Skills: TYPO3 Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA)

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