12. Frames

12.1 Frames are not to be used

Guide to this standard

Never use Frames.

You can use iFrames, but Cascading style sheets are recommended over iFrames where possible.

If iFrames must be used, be conscious of representing external content in the iFrame as being from the original site. If it is not obvious (i.e., transparent) that content is from another site, acknowledgement of any external content and where it is being pulled from is required. This falls under standard 16.6 - Copyright of third parties.

This standard covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 12.2 (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-frame-longdesc) for NZ government agencies.

Rationale for this standard

As described on Webaim.org, 'People using screen readers cannot quickly scan the contents of multiple pages. All of the content is experienced in a linear fashion, one frame at a time. Frames are not inaccessible to modern screen readers, but they can be disorienting.’