WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2 is the W3C accessibility standard published October 2023 that adds 9 success criteria to WCAG 2.1, focused on focus visibility, target size, dragging alternatives, and accessible authentication.
Detailed explanation
WCAG 2.2 introduced 9 new success criteria. Level AA additions are 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum), 2.5.7 Dragging Movements, 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum), 3.2.6 Consistent Help, 3.3.7 Redundant Entry, and 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum).
WCAG 2.2 deprecated 4.1.1 Parsing — the only criterion ever removed from a WCAG version. The 2.2 update is fully backward-compatible with 2.1 except for the parsing change. The European Accessibility Act and the EU EN 301 549 v3.2.1 reference WCAG 2.1; updates referencing 2.2 are anticipated through the EU harmonized standards process.
How this applies to Shopify stores
WCAG 2.2 affects Shopify themes that use small touch targets, drag-only swatch pickers, or CAPTCHA-only login. AccessComply tags every 2.2-specific failure separately so merchants can prioritize the new rules.
What merchants should check next
Treat this term as a practical audit prompt, not just a definition. Check the storefront pages where the concept shows up in real customer journeys: product discovery, add-to-cart, cart drawer, checkout handoff, account login, and support contact flows. If the issue affects code, verify the rendered HTML and computed browser output after the theme change. If it affects copy or media, keep the merchant-facing wording accurate and easy to maintain.
Primary source: w3.org