Understanding WCAG SC 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (Level A)
Information previously entered by or provided to the user that is required to be entered again in the same process is either:
- auto-populated, or
- available for the user to select.
Except when:
- re-entering the information is essential,
- the information is required to ensure the security of the content, or
- the previously entered information is no longer valid.
The goal of this success criterion is to make the processes where repeated steps are found easier by:
- Either avoid recalling and retyping the same information entered in the previous step
- Or allow the users to select from a dropdown or copy the information from the same page itself to reenter such information.
For example, a checkout flow in an e-commerce site asks shipping address and billing address to be entered. If both the addresses are the same, the site can provide a “My shipping address is the same as my billing address” Checkbox avoids recalling and retyping the same address twice.
Who Benefits?
- Users with cognitive and learning disabilities who may experience short work memory
- Users with limited mobility who use alternative input mechanisms like switch control and voice input software.
Exceptions and Limitations
- This success criterion does not apply to scenarios like password reset, password creation processes, or any other security-related processes.
- Also, this success criterion clearly states that the autocomplete attribute with which the programmatic input purpose identification is done by the browsers to save personal information is not sufficient.
- Another important point to be noted is that the processes or sites need not store the user information if a session ends. For example, if a user is filling out an online insurance enrollment form where the same information is asked twice and if the user suddenly abandons the enrollment process, then the site need not store or save the information to avoid redundant entries. If he or she restarts the process, then the site can ask the user to start from the beginning.
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