3.2.4 Consistent Identification
Level AA · added in WCAG 2.0
Components that do the same thing on different pages of your site must be identified consistently. Use the same labels, accessible names, icons and text alternatives for the same function.
Who it helps
Screen reader users recognize controls by their names, so a search button called "Search" on one page and "Find" on another seems like two features. People with cognitive disabilities and people using voice control also rely on familiar labels.
How to meet it
- Use the same visible label and accessible name for a function everywhere, such as "Search" for every site search button.
- Give the same icon the same text alternative on every page, such as alt="Download PDF" for each download icon.
- Keep names consistent, not necessarily identical: "Next page" links whose targets differ are still consistent.
- Build repeated controls from shared components so labels cannot drift between pages.
- Use different names for controls that do different things, even if they look alike.
Examples
<!-- Home page -->
<button type="submit">Search</button>
<!-- Blog page -->
<button type="submit" aria-label="Find">
<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><use href="#icon-search"></use></svg>
</button><!-- Invoice page -->
<a href="/invoice/42/print"><img src="/icons/print.svg" alt="Print"></a>
<!-- Receipt page -->
<a href="/receipt/7/print"><img src="/icons/print.svg" alt="Printer icon"></a><!-- Home page -->
<button type="submit">Search</button>
<!-- Blog page -->
<button type="submit" aria-label="Search">
<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><use href="#icon-search"></use></svg>
</button><!-- Invoice page -->
<a href="/invoice/42/print"><img src="/icons/print.svg" alt="Print"></a>
<!-- Receipt page -->
<a href="/receipt/7/print"><img src="/icons/print.svg" alt="Print"></a>Can a scanner detect this?
No
axe-core tests one page at a time, so it cannot compare how a function is labeled across pages. A person must check that repeated components, such as search, login, cart and print controls, use consistent names and icons.
No automated rule tests this criterion. Check it by hand.
Common mistakes
- Calling the same action "Basket" on some pages and "Cart" on others.
- Writing new alt text for the same icon each time it is used.
- Changing an icon-only button's aria-label in one template but not in the others.
Related criteria
Check your own page
See which automated WCAG checks your page fails, with the failing elements and how to fix them.
Reviewed November 2, 2026