WCAG Conformance Matrix
Pass / fail / incomplete status for every relevant WCAG criterion in the scan.
WCAG Conformance Matrix
The conformance matrix is the compliance-facing view of a scan. It takes your issue list and re-pivots it against every WCAG success criterion relevant to the version and level you chose.
Status values
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pass | No failing instances of any rule mapped to this criterion across the scan. |
| Fail | One or more rules mapped to this criterion produced violations. |
| Incomplete | At least one rule needs manual review — axe-core couldn't decide automatically. |
Layout
Criteria are grouped by the four WCAG principles:
- Perceivable — text alternatives, captions, color, adaptable content.
- Operable — keyboard, timing, seizures, navigation.
- Understandable — readable, predictable, input assistance.
- Robust — compatible with assistive technologies.
Within each principle the criteria are ordered by number (1.1.1, 1.2.1, ...), and each row shows:
- Criterion number and name
- Level (A / AA / AAA)
- Status pill
- Count of failing issues (clickable to filter the issue list)
Screenshot (TODO): Conformance matrix grouped by principle with status pills
Which criteria are shown
Depends on the WCAG version and level chosen at scan time:
- Level A scan — only Level A criteria.
- Level AA scan — A + AA criteria.
- Level AAA scan — A + AA + AAA criteria.
Levels nest, so an AA scan always includes every A criterion.
Using the matrix for compliance reporting
The matrix is the source of truth for formal conformance claims. Typical pattern:
- Choose the version and level you must conform to (often WCAG 2.1 AA).
- Scan your in-scope URLs.
- Fix every Fail row.
- Manually verify every Incomplete row (axe can't confirm them automatically).
- Re-scan until only Pass or (acceptably justified) Incomplete remain.
Export the report as PDF or JSON for your audit trail. See Export formats.