SIST EN ISO 9241-171:2026

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2026
Ergonomija medsebojnega vpliva človek-sistem - 171. del: Smernice za
dostopnost programske opreme (ISO 9241-171:2026)
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 171: Guidance on software accessibility
(ISO 9241-171:2026)
Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 171: Leitlinien für die Barrierefreiheit
von Software (ISO 9241-171:2026)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 171: Lignes directrices relatives à
l'accessibilité aux logiciels (ISO 9241-171:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9241-171:2025
ICS:
13.180 Ergonomija Ergonomics
35.080 Programska oprema Software
35.180 Terminalska in druga IT Terminal and other
periferna oprema IT peripheral equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 9241-171
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.180; 35.080 Supersedes EN ISO 9241-171:2008
English Version
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 171:
Software accessibility (ISO 9241-171:2025)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 171:
171: L'accessibilité aux logiciels (ISO 9241-171:2025) Leitlinien für die Barrierefreiheit von Software (ISO
9241-171:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 13 December 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9241-171:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9241-171:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159
"Ergonomics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9241-171:2008.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9241-171:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9241-171:2025 without any
modification.
International
Standard
ISO 9241-171
Second edition
Ergonomics of human-system
2025-12
interaction —
Part 171:
Software accessibility
Ergonomie de l’interaction homme-système —
Partie 171: L’accessibilité aux logiciels
Reference number
ISO 9241-171:2025(en) © ISO 2025

ISO 9241-171:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
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ISO 9241-171:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .viii
Introduction .ix
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Major accessibility related concepts .1
3.2 Concepts relating to interaction .3
3.3 Concepts relating to the user interface.3
3.4 Concepts relating to individualization .6
3.5 Concepts relating to accessibility features . .6
3.5.1 Major concepts relating to accessibility features .6
3.5.2 Concepts relating to visual accessibility features .7
3.5.3 Concepts relating to audio accessibility features . .8
3.5.4 Concepts relating to audiovisual accessibility features .9
3.5.5 Concepts relating to input features .9
3.5.6 Concepts relating to keyboard-based input features .10
4 Conventions .12
5 Conformance .13
6 Structure and application of this document .13
6.1 External principles and guidance . 13
6.1.1 Accessibility principles of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG) 2.2 . 13
6.1.2 Accessibility principles of the W3C User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG)
2.0 .14
6.2 Accessibility goals of ISO/IEC Guide 71 .14
6.3 Organization of guidance in this document. 15
6.4 Achieving accessibility .16
7 Goal 1: Achieving suitability for the widest range of users' needs .16
7.1 To recognize that users are included as system users within diverse contexts .16
7.2 To have accessible support for using the system .16
7.2.1 Describe accessibility features .16
7.2.2 Provide accessible support services .16
7.2.3 Provide accessible training material .17
7.2.4 Provide user documentation in accessible electronic form .17
7.2.5 Provide accessible feedback mechanisms .17
7.3 To have the system accessible to an individual with combinations of needs .17
8 Goal 2: Achieving conformity with user expectations needs .18
8.1 To not be surprised by the results of interactions with the system .18
8.1.1 Maintain naming consistency .18
8.1.2 Maintain location and ordering consistency .18
8.1.3 Present user notification using consistent techniques .18
8.1.4 Update equivalent alternatives for media when the media changes .18
8.1.5 Use familiar tactile patterns .19
8.1.6 Manage consistent focus .19
8.1.7 Restore state when regaining focus .19
8.1.8 Follow platform keyboard conventions .19
8.1.9 Managing changes of context .19
8.2 To apply personal knowledge and experience to interact successfully with the system . 20
8.3 To provide user assistance for knowledge needed to interact with the system . 20
8.4 To provide immediate and easily accessible help or further instructions, where such
help can be provided by the system . 20

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ISO 9241-171:2025(en)
9 Goal 3: Achieving support for individualization needs .20
9.1 To be provided with the way of interacting with a system that best works for them . 20
9.2 To choose between the available input and output modalities and their configuration
without requiring restart of the system.21
9.2.1 Enable switching of input and output alternatives .21
9.2.2 Enable revising or reassigning controls .21
9.3 To have simultaneous use of alternate interaction modalities .21
9.3.1 Choosing modalities to be simultaneously available .21
9.3.2 Switching between simultaneously available modalities .21
9.3.3 Allow user to select media streams to be presented .21
9.4 To be provided with information on available options for interacting with a system on
which to base a choice of interaction methods .21
9.5 To be provided with an accessible means to choose individualization features . 22
9.5.1 Enable individualization of user-preference settings . 22
9.5.2 Enable adjustment of attributes of common user-interface elements .24
9.5.3 Enable individualization of the user interface .24
9.6 To have individualization features maintained for future uses of the system, until
changed by the user .24
9.6.1 Utilize user-preference profiles .24
9.6.2 Provide a means of restoring system defaults . 25
9.6.3 Minimize the need to restart for changes . 25
9.7 To provide pre-defined preference profiles . 25
9.8 To take or give up control of functions that can be performed by either the user or the
system . 25
9.9 To have the option to use the system with a minimum of setup or configuration . 25
9.10 To customize important functionality: a new user accessibility need (UAN) . 25
9.10.1 Manage key input functionalities . 25
9.10.2 Manage pointer functionalities .27
9.10.3 Manage visual attributes . 28
9.10.4 Manage auditory attributes . 30
9.10.5 Manage language selection . 30
9.10.6 Manage windowing functionalities .31
9.10.7 Manage functionalities providing content alternatives .32
9.10.8 Manage animation functionalities .32
9.10.9 Adjust the scale and layout of user-interface elements as font-size changes .32
10 Goal 4: Achieving approachability needs .33
10.1 To have the system free from any physical barriers . 33
10.2 To have the system free from any psychological barriers . 33
10.3 To have the system maintain the user's attention . 33
10.3.1 Engage the user's attention . 33
10.3.2 Enable user rest breaks . 33
10.4 To have interaction options clearly presented . 33
10.5 To have appropriate levels of privacy and security . 34
10.6 To avoid patterns that cause psychological or physical discomfort or disturbance . 34
10.6.1 Avoid seizure-inducing flash rates . 34
10.7 To use the system remotely as well as directly . 34
10.8 To have the system free from environmental barriers . 34
11 Goal 5: Achieving perceivability needs .34
11.1 To use a specific sensory modality (or a set of specific modalities) to perceive
information . 34
11.1.1 To have information presented visually . 34
11.1.2 To have visual information available in other modalities . 35
11.1.3 To have information presented in auditory form . 35
11.1.4 To have audio information available in other modalities . 35
11.1.5 To have information in tactile form . . 36
11.1.6 To have tactile information also available in other modalities. 36
11.1.7 To experience information via multiple simultaneous modalities . 36
11.2 To have presentation attributes of a modality that match an individual's needs . 36

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ISO 9241-171:2025(en)
11.2.1 To have presentation attributes specific to the visual modality that match an
individual's needs . 36
11.2.2 To have material printed . 38
11.2.3 To have sign language perceivable . 38
11.2.4 To have 3-dimensional visual information presented using only two dimensions . 38
11.2.5 To have presentation attributes specific to the auditory modality that match an
individual's needs . 38
11.2.6 To select or deselect different audio streams . 39
11.2.7 To have presentation attributes specific to the tactile modality that match an
individual's needs . 39
11.2.8 To have visual or tactile feedback occur at the same location as the control . 39
11.3 To distinguish among the different components of information that are being presented . 39
11.3.1 To distinguish between different components without them interfering with
one another . 39
11.3.2 To prevent actions which would unintentionally decrease information
perceivability . 39
11.3.3 To locate and identify all actionable components without activating them . 39
11.3.4 To have actionable components look, sound or feel distinctive from non-
actionable components . 40
11.3.5 To have sufficient landmarks and cues to navigate to the necessary locations,
functionalities or controls to carry out a task . 40
11.3.6 To have distinct recognizable signals for different alerts or other messages that
use signals . 40
11.4 To perceive information regardless of environmental or other conditions that might
interfere . 40
11.4.1 To perceive foreground information in the presence of background information . 40
11.4.2 To avoid distractions that prevent focusing on a task .41
11.4.3 To have accessibility features not interfere with perception of standard
information .41
11.4.4 To have only the content necessary for the current task presented .41
11.4.5 To have haptic input and output from devices not interfere with the perception
of information .41
11.5 To not have one's senses overloaded .41
11.6 To have attention drawn to critically important information in the appropriate
modality, form, and language .42
12 Goal 6: Achieving understandability needs .42
12.1 To obtain information on the system and its components and functionalities .42
12.1.1 To get an overview and to orient the users to the system and its functions and
components .42
12.1.2 To obtain and use unique names for every user interface component .43
12.1.3 To receive training that supports an individual's cognitive needs . 46
12.1.4 To receive help that supports an individual's cognitive needs . 46
12.1.5 To receive recommendations that aid a user's understanding .47
12.2 To understand information presented by the system .47
12.2.1 To have presented information as easy to understand as possible .47
12.2.2 To have individual linguistic requirements supported by the system . 48
12.2.3 To have individual cultural requirements supported by the system . 48
12.2.4 To have text alternatives be provided for all non-textual information . 48
12.2.5 To have information provided pictorially as well as via text . 50
12.2.6 To customize abstract symbols with alternative representations . 50
12.2.7 To have language presented in a particular modality and format. 50
12.3 To have information that supports an individual's cognitive needs .51
12.3.1 To have information presented in a manner that supports an individual's styles
of reasoning .51
12.3.2 To avoid unnecessary high cognitive demands .51
12.3.3 To have navigation that supports an individual's thinking style .51
12.3.4 To have assistance with remembering and recalling information . 53

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ISO 9241-171:2025(en)
12.4 To have the steps for completing tasks optimized to match an individual's needs and
clearly explained . 53
12.4.1 Optimize the number of steps required for any task . 53
12.5 To have cues to support the individual in completing tasks . 53
12.5.1 Provide notification about toggle-key status . 53
12.5.2 Provide implicit or explicit designators . 54
12.5.3 Provide notification of progress . . 54
12.6 To have feedback showing the results of actions . 54
12.7 To have sufficient time to interact with the system . 54
12.7.1 To have sufficient time to understand displayed or presented information . 54
12.7.2 To have information necessary to plan actions available in advance . 55
12.7.3 To plan a series of actions in advance . 55
12.8 To access support when needed . 55
13 Goal 7: Achieving controllability needs .55
13.1 To use a specific sensory modality (or a set of specific sensory modalities) for inputs to
the system . 55
13.1.1 To have alternate modalities of input to the system . 55
13.1.2 To use the tactile modality as a source of inputs to the system . 56
13.1.3 To use sound as a source of inputs . 56
13.1.4 To use visual recognition as a source of inputs .57
13.2 To control attributes of an input or interaction modality to match an individual's needs .57
13.2.1 To have acceptable input or interaction attributes specific to the tactile modality .57
13.2.2 To have acceptable input or interaction attributes specific to the auditory
modality .57
13.2.3 To have acceptable input or interaction attributes specific to the visual modality .57
13.2.4 To position system components and devices in suitable locations for their use .57
13.3 To use a specific interaction method to provide inputs to the system .57
13.3.1 Keyboard-based interactions .57
13.3.2 Pointer-based interactions .59
13.3.3 Speech-based interactions .59
13.3.4 Gesture-based interactions . 60
13.4 To perform the task using specific types of action . 60
13.4.1 To have a means of shifting the focus from one interface component to another
interface component . 60
13.4.2 To perform the task using various parts of the body .61
13.4.3 To have a method to fully operate the system that does not require simultaneous
actions .61
13.4.4 To interact with the system at one's own pace .62
13.4.5 To have a method to fully operate the system that does not require direct body
contact . 64
13.4.6 To have specific interaction features: a new user accessibility need (UAN) . 64
13.5 To perform supporting and maintenance tasks related to the use of the system that
other users are expected to undertake .67
13.6 To control the environment (to the extent possible) to prevent interference with
performing the task .67
13.6.1 General .67
13.6.2 Avoid interference with accessibility features .67
13.7 To access the controls that allow them to turn on and adjust the built-in accessibility
features . 68
13.7.1 Make controls for accessibility features discoverable and operable . 68
13.7.2 Inform user of accessibility feature “On” or “Off” status . 68
13.7.3 Inform user of accessibility feature activation . 68
13.7.4 Provide capability to use preference settings across locations . 68
13.8 To have a suitable level of autonomy . . 69
14 Goal 8: Usability .69
14.1 To be provided a means to successfully accomplish tasks . 69
14.2 To avoid making mistakes in completing tasks . 69
14.3 To complete tasks in an efficient manner relative to one's own abilities . 69

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14.4 To perform tasks with a minimum of physical exertion . 69
14.5 To perform tasks with a minimum of cognitive exertion . 69
14.6 To operate the system without becoming fatigued .70
14.7 To complete tasks within the available time .70
14.8 To be satisfied with the outcome of interacting with the system .70
14.9 To have comparable satisfaction that the system is worth using to that of other users .70
15 Goal 9: Error tolerance .70
15.1 To have confidence that using the system will be free from negative consequences or
unacceptable risks .70
15.1.1 Avoiding negative consequences.70
15.1.2 Avoiding motion sickness .70
15.1.3 Avoiding unexpected major changes .70
15.2 To explore a system without unintentionally activating components or their
functionalities .71
15.2.1 Support exploration without unintentionally activating functions .71
15.2.2 Safeguard against inadvertent activation or deactivation of accessibility features .71
15.3 To accomplish tasks in spite of the occurrence of errors .71
15.3.1 Allow warning or error information to persist.71
15.4 To detect when errors have been made .71
15.4.1 Notify the user when errors are detected .71
15.4.2 Provide information about the error that has occurred .71
15.5 To recover from errors made from interacting with the system .71
15.5.1 Facilitate navigation to the location of errors .71
15.5.2 Assist with error correction .71
15.6 To reset a system to an earlier or original condition as a means of responding to errors . 72
15.7 To avoid errors by making negative consequences be obvious, easy to avoid, and
difficult to trigger . 72
16 Goal
...