Forms clearly show required fields and highlight errors
What this criterion checks
This criterion maps to 3.3.1 Error Identification. A detailed plain-language description is maintained in the WebLens criteria catalogue; the WCAG sub-test breakdown below describes exactly what the agent checks and what it does not.
How it's assessed
WebLens walks each user journey, captures a screenshot at every step, and an agent reasons over that evidence. See the how WebLens works for the full pipeline and the deterministic checks layered in for accessibility.
Sub-test coverage
3.3.1 Error Identification is broken into 3 sub-tests. Coverage is honest about where the agent is reliable, where it only partially checks the requirement, and where a human reviewer is still needed.
3 full
- Error information is available to screen readersFull
Our tool checks whether error messages are connected to form fields in a way screen readers can announce — the user hears what went wrong when they navigate to the field. It also detects fields that silently auto-correct user input without informing anyone — for example, a phone field that reformats the number without a notification.
- The error is described in text, not just color or iconsFull
Our tool checks that every detected error has an actual text description — not just a red border or an icon. It verifies the text explains what went wrong (for example, "Email is not valid" rather than just an exclamation mark). This ensures people who cannot perceive color changes or icons still understand the error.
- The specific field in error is clearly identified to the userFull
Our tool enters invalid data in form fields and checks whether the error message makes it clear which specific field has the problem. It catches missing identification (a vague "there was an error" with no field reference) and also checks that all errors are shown at once rather than only the first one, so users can correct everything in one pass.
How reliable it is
This criterion is currently scoring below its expected accuracy range, so confirm each finding before acting on it. See Accuracy & confidence for how the confidence tags are set.