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Technique G70:Providing a function to search an online dictionary

About this Technique

This technique relates to:

This technique applies to all technologies.

Techniques are examples of ways to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They are not required to meet WCAG. Content can satisfy the normative requirements of WCAG even if it does not use any of the documented techniques. See About WCAG Techniques.

Description

The objective of this technique is to provide the definition of words, phrases, jargon, or abbreviation expansions by adding a mechanism to access an on-line dictionary to the web page. This technique uses existing resources on the web to provide the definition rather than requiring the author to create a glossary or other mechanism within the site. By providing access from within the web page, a user can easily locate the desired definition. This technique can only be used if the online dictionary returns the correct definition.

Examples

Example 1

A site that describes how a computer works would include a search feature on each web page. The search would be performed against an on-line dictionary of computer terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. Since the dictionary is specialized for computer terms, the acronym expansion found should be more accurate than with a general dictionary.

Example 2

An online course in English grammar provides a paragraph of text which introduces new vocabulary words. Each of the vocabulary words is a link to an on-line dictionary to find the definition of the word. Activating a link will open up a new window to an online dictionary site with the specific vocabulary word defined.

Tests

Procedure

For each word, phrase, or abbreviation to be defined:

  1. Check that a mechanism exists within the web page to search for the word, phrase, or abbreviation via an on-line dictionary.
  2. Check that the result of the search of the dictionary for the word, phrase, or abbreviation is the correct definition.

Expected Results

  • Checks #1 and #2 are true.

Note: The definition of abbreviation used in WCAG is: "shortened form of a word, phrase, or name where the original expansion has not been rejected by the organization that it refers to and where the abbreviation has not become part of the language."

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