Grid

Grids are the foundation to design web page experiences. Thanks to a twelve column system they aid visual balance and make the user interface easier to scan. Having a defined grid creates a consistent layout that works across other platforms and different breakpoints.

Use cases

The user should be able to:

  • Use 12 column grid system in each breakpoints as documented
  • Maintain the spaces by utilizing 8x system
  • Use the minimum breakpoint without changing the meaning of content and present without requiring to scroll horizontally

Interaction and Style

Info and Relationships: Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1

Meaningful Sequence: When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.2

Sensory Characteristics: Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.3

Orientation: Content does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation, such as portrait or landscape, unless a specific display orientation is essential.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4

Resize text: Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.4

Reflow: Content can be presented without loss of information or functionality. It should also be presented without requiring scrolling in two dimensions for:

Vertical scrolling content at a width equivalent to 320 CSS pixels;

Horizontal scrolling content at a height equivalent to 256 CSS pixels;

Except for parts of the content which require two-dimensional layout for usage or meaning.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.10

Text Spacing: In content implemented using markup languages that support the following text style properties, no loss of content or functionality occurs by setting all of the following and by changing no other style property:

  • Line height (line spacing) to at least 1.5 times the font size;
  • Spacing following paragraphs to at least 2 times the font size;
  • Letter spacing (tracking) to at least 0.12 times the font size;
  • Word spacing to at least 0.16 times the font size.

Exception: Human languages and scripts that do not make use of one or more of these text style properties in written text can conform using only the properties that exist for that combination of language and script.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.12

Bypass Blocks: A mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple Web pages.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1

Focus Order: If a Web page can be navigated sequentially and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3

Consistent Navigation: Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2.3

Questions?

Connect with the DLS Team on Slack or by email.

Resources

Check out additional resources.