WCAG 2.1 vs WCAG 2.2 Text Spacing — What Changed

WCAG 2.2 went live in October 2023 and is the current standard as of 2026. For text spacing specifically, nothing changed — Success Criterion 1.4.12 has the same four requirements (line-height 1.5x, paragraph 2x, letter 0.12em, word 0.16em). The broader version bump added 9 new criteria around target size, focus, and dragging — none of which touch text spacing. Here is the full picture of what changed and what did not.

1.4.12 Text Spacing — identical in 2.1 and 2.2

The criterion text, the four values (1.5x line-height, 2x paragraph, 0.12em letter, 0.16em word), and the test method are all unchanged from WCAG 2.1 to 2.2. Sites that pass 2.1 1.4.12 automatically pass 2.2 1.4.12. No re-audit needed for this specific rule.

The rationale for keeping it: the 2018 research that set the 1.4.12 thresholds is still the current consensus for text spacing accessibility. Neither the thresholds nor the method needed revision.

What is new in WCAG 2.2 (for context)

Criterion	Level	What it covers
2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Min)	AA	Keyboard focus indicator must not be fully hidden
2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enh)	AAA	Focus indicator fully visible
2.4.13 Focus Appearance	AAA	Minimum focus indicator contrast and size
2.5.7 Dragging Movements	AA	Alternatives to drag gestures
2.5.8 Target Size (Min)	AA	Interactive targets at least 24x24px
3.2.6 Consistent Help	A	Help mechanism in consistent location
3.3.7 Redundant Entry	A	Do not require re-entering info in same session
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Min)	AA	Auth without cognitive test
3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enh)	AAA	Stricter auth accessibility

None of these affect text spacing. All affect different parts of the accessibility picture.

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What was removed in 2.2

One criterion was removed: 4.1.1 Parsing. It required valid HTML parsing, but modern browsers and assistive tech handle invalid markup robustly, making the criterion outdated. Its removal does not affect text spacing.

All other 2.1 criteria carried forward to 2.2 unchanged.

Which version should your site target in 2026

Target WCAG 2.2 Level AA unless you have a specific reason to stay on 2.1. The 2.2 upgrades are modest and the direction of regulatory compliance (ADA, EU EAA, Canada ACA) is converging on 2.2.

If you passed 2.1 AA recently, expanding to 2.2 AA requires covering the new 2.4.11, 2.5.7, 2.5.8, 3.2.6, 3.3.7, 3.3.8 criteria. Text spacing (1.4.12) is already handled from your 2.1 work.

Future-proofing for WCAG 3.0

WCAG 3.0 is in draft as of early 2026 and may take years to finalize. When it lands, it will likely rework the pass/fail model into a scored accessibility rating. Text spacing will still matter — but the specific thresholds may shift based on new research.

Practical advice: comply with 2.2 AA today. Track 3.0 drafts but do not rewrite your compliance around a moving target.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to re-audit my site when WCAG 2.2 came out?

Only for the 9 new criteria. If you already passed 2.1 AA, your existing compliance carries forward. Audit the new criteria (focus, target size, drag alternatives, help consistency, redundant entry, accessible auth).

Does Section 508 reference WCAG 2.2?

Section 508 currently references WCAG 2.0 AA. Updates to align with 2.1 or 2.2 are pending. Meanwhile, meeting 2.2 AA exceeds the 508 minimum.

Has EN 301 549 (European accessibility standard) updated to 2.2?

EN 301 549 v3.2.1 aligns with WCAG 2.1. An update to incorporate 2.2 is in progress and expected in 2026-2027.

Does WCAG 2.2 change anything about color contrast?

No. Color contrast criteria (1.4.3, 1.4.6, 1.4.11) are unchanged from 2.1 to 2.2. Same ratios, same rules.