Shopify Embedded App Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA)

Accessibility is a Built for Shopify gate and a legal requirement (ADA Title III, European Accessibility Act took effect 2025-06-28). Audited apps fail BFS review when keyboard navigation breaks inside iframes, focus indicators are stripped, alt text is missing on product imagery, or color contrast drops below 4.5:1. This skill is the checklist for every embedded app feature.

1. When to Use

Trigger this skill when:

• Building any new screen, Modal, SaveBar, or form in an embedded app
• Auditing an existing app before Built for Shopify submission
• Investigating a merchant complaint about keyboard or screen reader usage
• Reviewing a PR that touches focus, ARIA, color, or alt text
• Deciding whether to override a Polaris token (almost never — see Section 6)
• Adding i18n / RTL support that touches reading order, aria-label strings, or lang attributes
• Pairing with polaris-ui (component usage) or app-bridge (Modal/SaveBar) — this skill is the a11y overlay on top of both

Do NOT use this skill for storefront / theme accessibility — that is a separate domain (shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/best-practices/accessibility).

2. WCAG 2.1 AA Criteria Applied to Shopify Apps