Every check Proof runs, and exactly how each one gets fixed.

Every image needs real alternative text or a decorative mark; a tool’s placeholder does not count. The check confirms the text is there, not that it describes the image well.

Deep dives for 1.1.1 Non-text Content: Alt text, Scanned documents

Applies only when the file embeds audio or video; checks the media is tagged with a text alternative.

Deep dives for 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded): Multimedia

Applies only when the file embeds audio or video, and then always goes to a person, who checks that each clip with sound has captions.

Deep dives for 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Multimedia

Applies only when the file embeds audio or video, and then always goes to a person, who checks that each video has an audio description or a text alternative.

Deep dives for 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): Multimedia

A PDF cannot carry a live stream.

Applies only when the file embeds audio or video, and then always goes to a person, who checks that each video has an audio description.

Deep dives for 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded): Multimedia

Tags, headings, lists and tables, checked against the PDF/UA structure rules and Proof’s own scans for structure that is shown but not tagged.

Deep dives for 1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Tables, Headings and lists

The tagged reading order is audited against the page layout; where the audit cannot decide, a person confirms the order.

Deep dives for 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence: Reading order

A scan flags instructions that lean on color, shape, position, size or sound; a person reviews each one.

Deep dives for 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics: Human-verified checks

Not engaged by a single static PDF (WCAG2ICT).

Fillable forms: a field that asks for the person’s own details (name, email, phone, address, birth date) passes when its name says what it collects. A generic name goes to a person.

Deep dives for 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose: Forms

A scan looks for text, links, chart keys and chart-like pictures told apart by color alone. It passes the file when it finds none; otherwise a person checks each one.

Deep dives for 1.4.1 Use of Color: Human-verified checks

Applies only when the file embeds audio or video, and then always goes to a person, who checks that no audio plays on its own without a way to pause or stop it.

Deep dives for 1.4.2 Audio Control: Multimedia

Text contrast is measured run by run, on scanned pages from the pixels. A page that cannot be measured with a clear margin goes to a person.

Deep dives for 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum): Color contrast

Tagged text passes, because PDF viewers zoom it. An untagged file goes to a person.

Deep dives for 1.4.4 Resize Text: Human-verified checks

A text-recognition scan finds images that contain text; a person decides each one.

Deep dives for 1.4.5 Images of Text: Human-verified checks

Derived from the tagging, reading-order and images-of-text results; it passes only when they do.

Proof measures form-field borders and chart keys against 3:1 and finds pictures that look like charts or maps. A person confirms any shortfall and checks each chart; a file with none of these passes.

Deep dives for 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast: Human-verified checks

PDF viewers do not let a reader override spacing, so a document can neither meet nor fail it (WCAG2ICT).

Applies only to files with scripts. Acrobat’s own built-in scripts pass; a custom script goes to a person, who checks that anything it shows on hover or focus can be dismissed and stays put.

Deep dives for 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus: Human-verified checks

Links and form fields work through the viewer’s own keyboard support, so they pass. An action only a pointer can fire, or a custom script, goes to a person.

Deep dives for 2.1.1 Keyboard: Human-verified checks

Form fields and media are operated through the viewer and pass. A custom script, or an action only a pointer can fire, goes to a person, who confirms focus is never trapped.

Deep dives for 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap: Human-verified checks

Not engaged by a single static PDF (WCAG2ICT).

Applies only to files with scripts. A script that runs on a timer goes to a person, who confirms no action needs a response in time; without one, the file passes.

Deep dives for 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable: Human-verified checks

Applies only to files with scripts or media. Audio or video, or a custom script, goes to a person, who confirms anything that moves or updates on its own can be paused.

Deep dives for 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide: Human-verified checks, Multimedia

Applies only to files with scripts or media. Media, or a script that runs on a timer, goes to a person, who confirms nothing flashes more than three times a second.

Deep dives for 2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold: Human-verified checks

Applies to files over 20 pages: bookmarks or a heading structure meet it. With neither, a person decides.

The file needs a real title that the viewer shows, not a file name, a generator default or garbled text.

Deep dives for 2.4.2 Page Titled: Document title

Files with links or form fields: checks the tab order follows the document structure.

Deep dives for 2.4.3 Focus Order: Links and navigation

Checks each link is tagged around the words that describe it. When every link is tagged around empty content there are no words to check, so the criterion is not evaluated on that file: its certificate says “N of the M” and names 2.4.4 as not claimed.

Deep dives for 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context): Links and navigation

Applies to a set of web pages, not to one document.

Heading structure, a title marked as page decoration that screen readers skip, and form-field names.

Deep dives for 2.4.6 Headings and Labels: Headings and lists

The PDF viewer draws focus on links and form fields, so they pass. A script that moves or restyles a field on focus goes to a person.

Deep dives for 2.4.7 Focus Visible: Human-verified checks

Not engaged by a single static PDF (WCAG2ICT).

Not engaged by a single static PDF (WCAG2ICT).

Fillable forms: a field is flagged when its spoken name is generic and shares no word with the label printed beside it. A person decides each one.

Deep dives for 2.5.3 Label in Name: Forms

Not engaged by a single static PDF (WCAG2ICT).

Checks the file declares its primary language.

Deep dives for 3.1.1 Language of Page: Document language

A scan finds passages in another writing system; a person confirms each is marked with its language.

Deep dives for 3.1.2 Language of Parts: Human-verified checks

Forms and files with scripts: a field that navigates, opens a file, submits, launches anything or moves focus when it receives focus goes to a person.

Deep dives for 3.2.1 On Focus: Forms

Forms and files with scripts: a field that navigates, opens a file, submits, launches anything or moves focus when its value changes goes to a person.

Deep dives for 3.2.2 On Input: Forms

Applies to a set of web pages, not to one document.

Applies to a set of web pages, not to one document.

Fillable forms: Acrobat’s built-in validators name the expected format and pass when the field’s name states it too. A custom validation script goes to a person. A form that validates nothing passes.

Deep dives for 3.3.1 Error Identification: Forms

Fillable forms: checks each field is properly structured, and that its name identifies it and states any required format.

Deep dives for 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions: Forms

Checked with 3.3.1: a rejected entry needs a message that says what to enter. A custom validation script goes to a person.

Deep dives for 3.3.3 Error Suggestion: Forms

Fillable forms: a form that is saved or printed commits no one and passes. One that can submit goes to a person, who confirms entries can be reviewed and corrected, or the submission confirmed or undone.

Deep dives for 3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data): Forms

W3C now treats it as always satisfied, and removed it in WCAG 2.2.

Form fields and links need a name and a role; the file must also let assistive technology read it.

Deep dives for 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value: Forms

Applies only to files with scripts. Acrobat’s own built-in scripts pass; a custom script goes to a person, who checks that any status message it shows is announced.

Deep dives for 4.1.3 Status Messages: Human-verified checks