Is a glossary linked in the foot area enough?

The criterion requires a mechanism that is reachable from the word. A glossary in the foot area helps, but the link to the word is the safe way.

Do I need to explain every word?

Any that your audience does not know. On a page for tax consultants, “pre-tax” is common, on a page for founders is not.

Does the HTML element help dfn?

Yes. dfn marks the place where a word is defined; a link from each further occurrence there meets the criterion.

This translation has not been editorially reviewed yet. The German version is authoritative. Deutsche Fassung

Accessibility

How does a website explain unusual words and technical terms?

Authorized German, jargon, phrases that literally make no sense: For people with learning disabilities, cognitive limitations or another first language, an unexplained word is a wall. Level AAA Criterion 3.1.3 requires a website to explain unusual words, either directly in the text, by reference to a glossary or via a list of definitions.

What the Criterion Requires

For words or phrases that are unusual or restricted in use, there is a mechanism that provides their meaning. These include technical terms, phrases ("keep the ball flat"), jargon of an industry and words that are meant differently in context than usual. The mechanism can be an explanation in brackets, a link to the glossary, a definition at the first occurrence or a glossary entry accessible from each occurrence.

What is unusual

The border depends on the audience. A site for professionals may speak their language; One side is not for all citizens. A good standard: If the word is in a general dictionary with the same meaning, it is common. If it is only in specialist dictionaries, in the meaning of an industry or as an expression, it needs explanation. Abbreviations treat their own criterion 3.1.4.

This is how we deal with it

The measurement can hold words against a frequency list of the language and identify rare words as an indication without explanation; whether a word is unusual for the audience of the page and whether the explanation is true, judges a person. The criterion belongs to the category AAA in knowledge.

Examples

Technical wording without explanation

Not met

<p>Die Vorsteuer wird im Voranmeldungszeitraum geltend gemacht.</p>

Passes

<p>Die <a href="/glossar#vorsteuer">Vorsteuer</a> (die Umsatzsteuer, die Sie selbst bezahlt haben) wird im Voranmeldungszeitraum geltend gemacht.</p>
<!-- /glossar: <dl><dt id="vorsteuer">Vorsteuer</dt><dd>…</dd></dl> -->

An explanation in brackets at the first occurrence or a link to the glossary that can be reached from the word.

Collect words that readers ask you or that are common in the search for your website: these are the ones in need of explanation.
Create a glossary as your own page with a list of definitions and link each word to it at the first occurrence.
In the text at the first occurrence, explain in brackets where a link would be too cumbersome.
Replace phrases and jargon where a simple word says the same thing; That is the best explanation.

Deutsche Fassung dieser Seite