Pause, Stop, Hide (2.2.2)

Moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating content must include a mechanism to pause, stop, or hide it.

WCAG Reference

Applies to: WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2 Introduced in: WCAG 2.0 | Level: A | Read the official specification →

What this rule checks

The scanner identifies animations, auto-scrolling regions, and auto-updating feeds that run for more than five seconds without user controls.

Why it matters

Motion on screen can be distracting or physically harmful for users with attention disorders, vestibular conditions, or cognitive disabilities. Continuous updates can also interfere with screen-reader announcements.

Common failure patterns

auto-scrolling news tickers or marquees with no pause button
animated hero banners that loop indefinitely
live data feeds that push updates into the DOM without user consent
background video that plays continuously with no stop control

Remediation guidance

add visible pause, stop, or hide controls for any auto-moving content
respect the prefers-reduced-motion media query to minimize or remove animation
for live feeds, allow the user to opt in to updates rather than pushing them automatically
ensure controls are keyboard accessible and announced by screen readers