WCAG 2.1 · Level AAA · Operable
2.5.5 Target Size (Enhanced)
Manual verification
How to validate 2.5.5 by hand
At Level AAA, measure pointer targets against the 44-by-44 CSS-pixel minimum, subject to the criterion’s exceptions.
Start with the extension result
Reopen the reported URL and reproduce the same state (for example, after expanding a menu or submitting a form). Use the result’s Highlight action when available, or its affected-element details and CSS selector, to find the reported content. Apply the checks below to that content and its context. If the element or state has changed, rescan and record that difference before deciding whether the finding still applies.
- Measure the clickable target’s actual CSS-pixel bounds, including padding that is part of the hit area.
- Check each small target and determine whether spacing, equivalent control, inline placement, user-agent control, or essential presentation exception applies.
- Test adjacent controls with touch or a pointer to confirm the measured target is the area that activates the intended action.
Evidence to record
Record target dimensions, spacing, action, and the exact exception used for any smaller target.
Scope and exceptions
This Level AAA enhanced target size is 44×44 CSS pixels; it is stricter than 2.5.8. Measure the interactive area, not just the visible icon.
Record the review outcome
- Confirmed: the recorded evidence shows the requirement is not met in the tested page state, and no applicable exception explains it.
- Not reproduced: the reported issue is absent in the current state. Record the URL, state, and affected element you checked; this does not prove other pages or states conform.
- Needs more review: evidence is incomplete, the content requires human judgment, or an exception is uncertain. Record what remains to be checked instead of treating it as a pass.