Coding Guidelines

MSU Accessibility Policy applies to every web page used to conduct core university business and academic activities. Visit webaccess.msu.edu for additional accessibility tools and resources.
Standard: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA.
For Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, visit w3.org/TR/WCAG20/.
Make use of free accessibility checkers such as WAVE (WebAIM).
Test color contrast ratios using tools like WebAIM Color Contrast Checker.
Ensure that your website, and particularly its main navigation, can be navigated using only the keyboard.
Use Browser Developer Tools that provide built-in tools and plugins that can test code, accessibility, color contrast, and more.
Use a checklist to review your web pages:
- W3C WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria: https://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-WCAG20-20060427/appendixB.html
- W3C Customizable Quick Reference: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/
- WebAIM WCAG 2.0 Checklist: http://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist
- The A11Y Project Web Accessibility Checklist: http://a11yproject.com/checklist.html

Check for HTML and CSS errors that break functionality and layout.
Use free validation tools:
- W3C Markup Validation Service (validator.w3.org)
- CSS Validation Service (jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)
For automated validation, consider Total Validator (totalvalidator.com).

Check regularly for broken links that confuse and frustrate visitors.
Use free automated link-checking tools to identify broken links:
Xenu Link Sleuth for Windows
Integrity for OSX
Manually check links quarterly to locate broken links automated tools can’t identify.

Favicons are 16x16 icons displayed by browsers to the left of the URL bar and for bookmarks to websites.
Favicons for all MSU websites should feature the MSU helmet. (See Resources and Downloads)

Include at least one <h1> HTML tag that describes the main subject of the web page.
Include <h2> through <h6> HTML tags for longer, complex documents.
Avoid gaps in the heading hirarchy (e.g. skipping from <h1> to <h3>).
Include key words and phrases in headings to describe content.
Use clear language that is easy to comprehend.
Use the fewest words possible.

Include common key words or phrases in links that describe the content on linked pages.
Use link text like “learn how to apply to MSU,” “sign up to receive MSU news updates,” and “visit the Office of the President website.”
Do not use link text like “more information,” “click here,” and “learn more.”

Do not configure your links to automatically open in a new window or tab. Doing so can confuse and frustrate visitors to MSU websites.
Using a new browser window resets the back button in that window. The back button is the second most used navigation function (after following hyperlinks).

MSU Web Standards