Government digital experience standards

Based on public policy, web protocol, guidelines and best practices.

Indicators Standard Guidance
Site is available for indexing by well-behaved agents.
Page main content is available in initial document.
Common accessibility best practices.
Accessibility properties for screen readers.
Alternative text, captions, and transcripts.
Difference between text and background colors.
Ensure hidden elements are accessible.
Use correct language attributes for accessibility.
Descriptive identifiers for elements.
Application keyboard navigation.
Ensure tables and lists are accessible.
Describes webpage content in a few words.
Describes webpage content in a few words.
Makes websites fit all screen sizes.
Privacy and integrity protection.
One domain works with www and non-www.
Sponsored top-level domain (.gov / .edu / .mil).
Measures unexpected webpage content shifts.
The page begins to display within 1.8 seconds.
Page responds in under 0.2 seconds.
Major content loads in 2.5 seconds.
Code received in 0.8 seconds.
The HTTP status of /sitemap.xml is OK.
The sitemap file type is XML.
Every link on the home page is in the sitemap.
The site has a valid robots policy.
The robots policy allows access to browsers and scrapers.
The robots.txt file points to a sitemap file.
Use preferred page URLs to avoid duplication.
The site restricts what can be loaded.
Site upgrades to a secure connection.
The site has a security.txt file.
The site prevents mime type sniffing.
Website title for social sharing.
Content category for social media.
Page title for social sharing.
Short description of your webpage content.
Canonical link for social sharing.
Preview image for social sharing.
Image description for accessibility