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A back link with a 20 CSS-pixel height is smaller than WCAG 2.2’s default AA target size of 24 by 24 CSS pixels—but height alone does not determine whether it passes. The spacing exception measures an imaginary 24-pixel-diameter circle centered on the target’s bounding box and checks whether that circle intersects another target. Text links may also qualify for the inline exception, depending on their context.
What WCAG 2.2 requires at Level AA
Success Criterion 2.5.8, Target Size (Minimum), sets a default minimum of 24 by 24 CSS pixels for pointer targets. WCAG 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation on 5 October 2023. A CSS pixel is a density-independent unit, not a count of physical screen pixels. W3C’s SC 2.5.8 text defines the requirement and its exceptions.
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Because a target must meet both dimensions to satisfy the default, a 20 CSS-pixel height is below that default. It does not, by itself, prove a failure: the criterion includes exceptions, and the spacing exception involves the target’s bounding box and nearby controls, not just its height.
How the spacing exception works
For an undersized target, imagine a circle 24 CSS pixels in diameter centered on the target’s bounding box. The circle must not intersect another target or the corresponding circle for another undersized target. The question is therefore not simply whether there are four extra pixels above and below the link.
#1 Best Overall
- Identify the actual pointer target. Inspect the element or containing area that responds to a pointer, rather than relying only on the text’s font size or a CSS height declaration.
- Determine its bounding box. For a non-rectangular target, use the bounding box, which can extend beyond the visible shape. With a concave shape, the bounding-box center can even lie outside the shape itself.
- Apply the circle test. Center a 24 CSS-pixel-diameter circle on that bounding box and check whether it intersects a neighboring target or another undersized target’s circle.
- Check the real rendered layout. Consider the link’s position and neighboring controls as they appear on the page; a height measurement alone cannot answer the spacing question.
For a link that wraps within a sentence or block, W3C says to base the bounding box on how the component would appear on one line—not just on a visible fragment of the link. See the criterion’s sizing and spacing details.
Could a back link qualify for an exception?
Possibly, but the label “back link” does not establish an exception. The inline exception covers targets in a sentence or whose size is constrained by the line height of non-target text; W3C gives links within paragraphs as an example. A standalone back link may have a different context, so evaluate its actual placement and what constrains its size.
Rank #2
Other SC 2.5.8 exceptions include an equivalent control for the same function on the same page, target size controlled by the user agent, and essential presentation. Apply the exception that matches the implementation rather than assuming every small link qualifies. The full list is in WCAG 2.2 SC 2.5.8.
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One option is to enlarge the clickable area. Another is to preserve a visually compact link while giving its containing element enough space from neighboring targets. W3C’s sufficient technique C42 demonstrates using min-height and min-width on a container so it is at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels and provides the clearance needed for the spacing test. C42 is an example technique, not a mandatory implementation recipe; other approaches can meet the criterion.
Where practical, a larger hit area can make a control easier to use for people with hand tremors or other mobility impairments, touchscreen users, and people operating a device one-handed or in a shaking environment. Passing an exception is a conformance result, not a reason to make a target smaller than usability requires.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep the AA and AAA target sizes distinct
The 24-by-24 CSS-pixel default is the Level AA minimum in SC 2.5.8. The 44-by-44 CSS-pixel target size belongs to SC 2.5.5, Target Size (Enhanced), a separate Level AAA criterion. It is not the AA minimum. W3C’s SC 2.5.5 text sets out that enhanced criterion.
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