Rule: Identify language changes

Rule ID Language 2
Conformance Required
Definition Elements with text content in a different language from the principal language of the page must use the lang attribute with a valid IANA language code to identify the change.
Purpose
  • Assistive technologies like screen readers and other speech output technologies need to know the language of the characters of an element to speak the text content correctly.
Conformance Required
WCAG Success Criteria

Success Criterion 3.1.2 Language of Parts

Other Related Success Criterion:

Rule Category Color/Content
Rule Scope Page
Techniques
  • Use the lang attribute to define the IANA language of the text content of the element.
  • Use the IANA codes to identify the language of the text in the element (e.g. en, fr, ...).
Information Links