SIA-R58Repeated blocks of content can be bypassed

Accessibility requirements

This rule tests conformance of the following accessibility requirements:

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Description

This rule checks that each page has a mechanism to bypass repeated blocks of content and reach the main content.

Applicability

This rule applies to any web page.

Expectations

For each test target, the outcome of at least one of the following rules is passed:

Assumptions

This rule makes the following assumptions:

The means to bypass blocks is included in the content of the web page. For example, server-side scripting, or a global "settings" page, can provide a functionality similar to Block of repeated content is collapsible by serving a modified version of the page; in which case this rule would fail but Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass blocks could nonetheless be satisfied.
Completely removing blocks of repeated content is sufficient to pass Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass blocks. However, providing an instrument to remove them without providing one to show them again is likely going to create other unrelated issues.
Repeated content that is after the main content does not need means to be bypassed in order to satisfy Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass blocks.

Accessibility support

This rule has the following accessibility support concerns:

Techniques and solutions that identify blocks of content are sufficient ways of passing Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass blocks. They are, however, only beneficial for users who have ways of navigating with this information. For example, adding headings to a document will only help users who can "jump" from heading to heading (such a possibility can be provided by browsers, browsers plugins, screen readers, or other assistive technologies). Techniques and solutions based on links will benefit all users (for example, sighted keyboard users with no other assistive technology) and are therefore recommended.
If the instruments used to pass some of the atomic rules are not keyboard accessible, or not included in the accessibility tree, passing this rule can still leave many users without a way to bypass blocks of repeated content. WCAG's definition of mechanism has a note saying that it "needs to meet all success criteria for the conformance level claimed". This includes Success Criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard and Success Criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value which are both at level A.
This rule only checks if there is a way to reach the main content. On pages with several interleaved repeated and non-repeated content, this is not necessarily sufficient to satisfy Success Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass blocks.

Examples

Passed

Passed examples can be found in the various atomic rules that compose this rule.

Failed

This page does not pass any of the input rules:

<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <title>The Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1</title>
    </head>
    <body>
        <aside id="about-book">
            The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a 14th century historical
            novel.
        </aside>

        <div id="main">
            <strong style="font-size: 18pt"
                >Three Heroes Swear Brotherhood at a Feast in the Peach
                Garden</strong
            >
            <p>
                Unity succeeds division and division follows unity. One is bound
                to be replaced by the other after a long span of time.
            </p>
        </div>
    </body>
</html>

Inapplicable

This document is not an HTML web page.

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <title>This is an SVG</title>
</svg>