WCAG 2.4.5 Multiple Ways

Success criterion 2.4.5 lets people find content in the way that works best for them. Some people prefer search because navigating menus is hard for them; others, for example people with cognitive disabilities, find browsing a structure or a site map easier than spelling a search term. It is level AA and part of EN 301 549 (clause 9.2.4.5).

What the criterion requires

More than one way is available to locate a web page within a set of web pages, except where the web page is the result of, or a step in, a process.

Ways listed by W3C as sufficient techniques (use two or more):

• links to related pages;
• a table of contents;
• a site map;
• a search function;
• a list of links to all pages;
• linking to all pages from the home page.

The exception covers process pages: cart and checkout steps, order confirmation, the result page of a form submission.

Typical failures on an online shop

• a small shop with a menu but no search and no site map, where some pages (shipping, returns, legal) are reachable only from a single footer link;
• landing pages for campaigns that are linked only from ads and newsletters and appear nowhere in the navigation or search;
• a search that indexes products but not help, shipping or legal pages, combined with a menu that does not show them;
• blog or guide pages reachable only through pagination.

Most shop platforms offer a menu plus search out of the box, so this criterion is usually met as long as both cover the whole site.

How to check it

Automated: there is no axe-core rule for this criterion. Whether a page can be found in two ways depends on the whole site, not on a single page, so it needs a manual check.

By hand: pick a sample of pages — a product, a category, the shipping and returns page, the privacy policy, a blog post. For each, find it once through the navigation (menu, footer, breadcrumbs) and once another way (search, site map, links from related pages). Note pages you can reach only one way, and ignore checkout steps.

How to fix it

• Provide site search and make sure it also finds content pages, not only products.
• Add an HTML site map page linked from the footer.
• Use breadcrumbs and "related" links between categories, products and guides.
• Add campaign landing pages to the navigation or the site map when they are meant to stay.

Related criteria

• 2.4.2 Page Titled — each page needs a descriptive title.
• 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) — links must say where they go.
• WCAG 2.2 checklist — all A and AA criteria in one list.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as multiple ways in WCAG 2.4.5?

At least two ways to locate a page, for example the navigation menu plus site search, a site map, a table of contents, or links between related pages.

Do checkout pages need multiple ways?

No. Pages that are the result of a process or a step in it, such as checkout steps or an order confirmation, are exempt.

Is a search box alone enough for 2.4.5?

Search is one way. You still need a second one, such as the main navigation or a site map, so that people who cannot or do not want to use search can find pages.