Two standards, one goal
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and RGAA (Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité) share the same fundamental goal: making web content accessible to people with disabilities. However, they differ in origin, structure and approach.
WCAG overview
Published by the W3C, WCAG is the international accessibility standard. It is organized around 4 principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust), 13 guidelines, and 78 success criteria across 3 levels (A, AA, AAA).
RGAA overview
Published by France's DINUM, the RGAA is the French operational implementation of WCAG. It translates WCAG AA requirements into 106 testable criteria organized in 13 themes, with detailed testing methodology.
Key comparison
| Aspect | WCAG 2.1 | RGAA 4.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | W3C (international) | DINUM (France) |
| Scope | Worldwide | France |
| Structure | 4 principles, 78 criteria | 13 themes, 106 criteria |
| Levels | A, AA, AAA | Compliant / Partially / Non-compliant |
| Testing methodology | Suggested techniques | Precise tests included |
| Legal force in France | Indirect | Direct |
Which one to follow?
- Working in France? Follow the RGAA. It's the official standard for compliance checks.
- Working internationally? Follow WCAG. It's the globally recognized standard.
- Both? Follow RGAA for legal compliance — conforming to RGAA automatically means meeting WCAG AA.
The European context
The European standard EN 301 549 incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA and adds requirements for software and mobile apps. RGAA 4.1 is aligned with this European norm.