A quote tool may put a crucial fee explanation behind a small information icon. The supplier must decide whether that text is optional help, persistent content or an interactive disclosure. A hover-only tooltip is a poor substitute for information the customer must inspect before proceeding.
Primary evidence and claim boundaries
WCAG1.4.13 addresses additional content appearing on hover or focus, with dismissible, hoverable and persistent conditions and stated exceptions. The APG tooltip pattern is explicitly work in progress, not task-force consensus. Primary reference · Read 18 October 2026.
The draft APG tooltip pattern describes a non-focusable tooltip associated through aria-describedby. Content needing focusable links or controls calls for a different interaction design. Primary reference · Read 18 October 2026.
Filled acceptance example
Original synthetic teaching scenario, not a client case, provider integration test or business result. The example policy needs the actual owner’s approval; scroll the table on narrow screens.
| Input and state | Declared check | Expected output and decision |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic fee “Installation excluded” is essential | Only appears on pointer hover | Move to persistent readable quote details |
| Optional definition of lead time | Appears on focus and hover | Test dismissal, pointer transition and persistence |
| Popup contains a “View fee schedule” link | Link needs keyboard focus | Use an appropriate disclosure/dialog, not pretend it is a tooltip |
| Tooltip covers the item being read | Escape dismisses it without moving focus | Retain readable context under the chosen design |
Practical handover procedure
- Classify each help text by whether it is essential to the decision and whether it contains interactive content. Write the chosen presentation for each filled case.
- Test keyboard focus, pointer hover, movement onto the revealed content and dismissal on an isolated component. Do not infer touch support from desktop hover.
- Check small-screen placement and reading order. Keep important prices, exclusions and commitment details available without relying on a transient hover state.
Interpret the outcome
The first and third rows select a different presentation rather than trying to make every popup a better tooltip. Optional explanatory text can follow an assessed tooltip design, while essential terms and focusable content require their own accessible path.
Acceptance decision
Accept the chosen presentation after supported keyboard, pointer and small-screen tests. Do not cite the draft APG pattern as a final standard or a compliance certificate.
Limits and unverified work
Synthetic fee wording, not an actual quote or legal disclosure opinion. No frozen homepage, price or widget is changed.
Download the filled bilingual acceptance record — Contains the inputs, steps, expectations and limits. This is a teaching record, not an executable production integration.