Resource guide
3.2.4 Consistent Identification
Components with the same function must be identified consistently across a website.
By Calling All Minds·Last updated April 2026
Success criterion
Conformance level
Legal standard — required for EAA compliance.
What it means
When the same function appears across multiple pages, it must be labelled and presented consistently. A search button that says 'Search' on one page and 'Find' on another, or a back button that uses different icons in different sections, creates confusion.
Consistent identification helps all users, but is especially important for people with cognitive disabilities who rely on predictable patterns.
In practice
Use the same label for the same function across all pages: if it is called 'Add to basket' on the product page, it should not be called 'Add to cart' on the search results page.
Icons used to represent functions must be the same icon every time. Do not use a floppy disk to mean 'save' on one page and a cloud icon to mean the same thing on another.
Accessible names for controls with the same function should be identical across pages.
Common failures
- Search function labelled 'Search' on the homepage and 'Find' in the product catalogue
- Back button using different icons or labels in different sections of the same application
AXS Audit
AXS Audit checks your site against 3.2.4 and flags issues your team can act on straight away. It covers criteria that automated scanners often miss.