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Moderate1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A), 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A)Rule ID: region

All page content should be contained by landmarks

Important page content is not grouped inside landmark regions (`main`, `nav`, `header`, `footer`, `aside`, `section` with accessible name).

Rule Description

Checks whether significant content is contained within recognized landmark regions.

Why It Matters

  • Screen reader users navigate landmarks to move quickly
  • Unlandmarked content is harder to discover and revisit
  • Page structure becomes less predictable

How to Fix

Wrap major page sections in semantic landmarks and ensure logical structure.

Bad Example:

<div class="top-menu">...</div>
<div class="content">...</div>

Good Example:

<header>...</header>
<nav aria-label="Primary">...</nav>
<main>...</main>
<footer>...</footer>

Common Mistakes

  • Excessive generic <div> wrappers
  • Multiple content blocks outside landmarks
  • Using section without accessible name where required

Testing

  • Open landmarks list in screen reader and verify coverage
  • Confirm main content is reachable via landmark navigation
  • Validate semantic HTML structure in audits

External Resources

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