Current versions of SC and Definitions

• SC for viewing | SC for editing
• Essential definition for viewing | Essential definition for editing
• Display orientation definition for viewing | Display orientation definition for editing
• SC in full draft guideline

SC Shortname

Orientation

SC Text

Content is not locked to a specific orientation, and functionality of the content is operable in all orientations, except where orientation is essential for use of the content.

Suggestion for Priority Level (A/AA/AAA)

Level AA

Related Glossary additions or changes

Orientation: portrait or landscape mode of the display
See the CSS Device Adaptation Module Level 1, the "orientation" descriptor [css-device-adapt-1].

What Principle and Guideline the SC falls within.

Principle 2: Operable

New Guideline: Make content usable in device orientations.

Description

Some mobile applications automatically set the screen to a particular display orientation (landscape or portrait) and expect that users will respond by rotating the mobile device to match. However, some users have their mobile devices mounted in a fixed orientation (e.g. on the arm of a power wheelchair). Therefore, mobile applications need to support both orientations by making sure content and functionality is available in each orientation. While the order of content and method of functionality may have differences the content and functionality is available. When a particular orientation is essential, the user needs to be advised of the orientation requirements.

Examples of problems

Banking website locked in portrait mode
iOS home screen on the iPhone vs. iPad

Benefits

Users with dexterity impairments, who have a mounted mobile device will be able to use the content in their fixed orientation

Testability

• Turn the device into portrait orientation.
• Turn the device into landscape orientation
• Check all content and functionality is available in both orientations.

In situations where an on-screen keyboard may be used, the on-screen keyobard should be displayed to ensure that content and functionality is not blocked in different orientations.

Note: the content does not need to be in the same order for different orientation. It does need to meet SC 1.3.2 and SC 2.4.3 and be in a meaningful sequence.

Techniques

Technique: Using CSS to set the orientation to allow both landscape and portrait.

Technique: Use of show/hide controls to allow access to content in different orientations

Technique: Use of the flexible box model to change the meaningful sequence order of content to match the visual order in different orientations.

Failure: locking the orientation

Failure: Functionality that is only available in one orientation.