| name | ux-compliance-audit |
| description | User Experience (UX) and accessibility compliance check. Verify navigation, content-to-ad ratio, readability, accessibility, and mobile usability. Maps to ARB UX criteria: UX01-UX15. |
UX Compliance Audit
Comprehensive evaluation of user experience, accessibility, and compliance with Google's UX standards. Ensures your site is accessible, navigable, and ad-friendly for all users across all devices.
Scoring Mode & Aggregation Contract
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Default mode | Core 79 + Profile (UX01–UX15 always; UX16–UX18 when site type activates them) |
| Core 79 items | UX01–UX15 (15 items) |
| Extension items | UX16 (progressive web app / offline UX), UX17 (dark mode support), UX18 (custom 404 / error UX) |
| Extension trigger | UX16 when site type = Tool/SaaS; UX17 when News or Blog with high return traffic; UX18 always recommended but only scored in Full 105 or explicit trigger |
| Veto items | None in UX pillar; but UX09 (return-button hijacking) escalates to Critical and may cause PC cross-flag |
Output fields required (for aggregation by ads-readiness-assessment):
score_mode: one of Core 79, Core 79 + Profile, Full 105pillar: UXitems_evaluated: list of item IDs actually checkedcritical_flags: any UX items rated Critical (e.g., UX09)extension_findings: any UX16–UX18 issues observed even when in Core 79 mode
Rule: Items not in scope for the chosen mode must be labeled not_in_scope — never omitted silently.
Purpose
Verify that your UX meets User Experience (UX) criteria:
- Clear navigation and site structure
- Content-to-ad ratio appropriate
- No intrusive interstitials or deceptive UI
- Readable typography and layout
- Accessibility compliance (WCAG AA)
- Mobile usability and responsiveness
Quick Start
Input: Website URL or design files
Output: Visual survey + screenshots + WCAG report
Manual Checks: Navigation, typography, accessibility
Time: 20-30 minutes
Workflow
Step 1: Site Structure Assessment
Evaluate navigation and site architecture:
- Clear site navigation menu visible on all pages (UX01)
- Logical information hierarchy
- Category organization
- Search/filter functionality for large sites (UX10)
Step 2: Ad & Content Analysis
Verify ad placement and content ratio:
- Content-to-ad ratio acceptable (<30% ads) (UX02)
- Ads not intrusive or deceptive (UX03, UX06)
- Ad placement doesn't interfere with navigation (UX08)
- No return-button hijacking (UX09)
Step 3: Readability & Typography
Assess visual presentation:
- Font size ≥14px for body text (UX04)
- Sufficient line-height and spacing
- Proper color contrast (WCAG AA) (UX11)
- Content not cramped or crowded
- Logical reading flow
Step 4: Accessibility Verification
Check accessibility compliance:
- Alt text on informative images (UX12)
- Color contrast ratios ≥4.5:1 normal, ≥3:1 large (UX11)
- Keyboard navigation functional
- Screen reader compatible
- WCAG AA compliance
Step 5: Cross-Browser & Mobile
Verify compatibility:
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari rendering (UX07)
- Mobile responsiveness (UX07)
- Touch target sizing
- Mobile viewport configuration
Step 6: Deceptive Elements Check
Scan for problematic UI:
- No fake "close" X buttons (UX06)
- No fake download buttons
- No misleading CTAs
- Navigation buttons not obscured by ads
Step 7: Generate Report
Produces detailed UX report with:
- Overall UX compliance score (0-100)
- Per-criterion evaluation
- Accessibility report (WCAG)
- Mobile usability assessment
- Screenshots highlighting issues
- Recommendations for improvement
Checklist
- ✓ Evaluate site navigation (UX01)
- ✓ Measure content-to-ad ratio (UX02)
- ✓ Check for intrusive interstitials (UX03)
- ✓ Verify typography and readability (UX04)
- ✓ Check internal link paths (UX05)
- ✓ Scan for deceptive UI elements (UX06)
- ✓ Test cross-browser compatibility (UX07)
- ✓ Verify ad placement (UX08)
- ✓ Check return button integrity (UX09)
- ✓ Verify search/filtering (UX10)
- ✓ Test color contrast (UX11)
- ✓ Check image alt text (UX12)
- ✓ Verify link functionality (UX13)
- ✓ Test mobile responsiveness (UX14)
- ✓ Verify footer/legal links (UX15)
- ✓ Run accessibility audit (WCAG)
- ✓ Generate comprehensive report
- ✓ Export annotated screenshots
- ✓ Route to ux-optimization-roadmap for fixes
Process Flow
digraph ux_audit {
"Navigation Assessment" [shape=box];
"Ad Analysis" [shape=box];
"Typography Check" [shape=box];
"Accessibility Audit" [shape=box];
"Mobile Test" [shape=box];
"Browser Compatibility" [shape=box];
"Deceptive Elements" [shape=box];
"Analyze Results" [shape=box];
"Generate Report" [shape=box];
"Export Results" [shape=box];
"Route to Fix" [shape=doublecircle];
"Navigation Assessment" -> "Ad Analysis";
"Ad Analysis" -> "Typography Check";
"Typography Check" -> "Accessibility Audit";
"Accessibility Audit" -> "Mobile Test";
"Mobile Test" -> "Browser Compatibility";
"Browser Compatibility" -> "Deceptive Elements";
"Deceptive Elements" -> "Analyze Results";
"Analyze Results" -> "Generate Report";
"Generate Report" -> "Export Results";
"Export Results" -> "Route to Fix";
}
Detailed Criteria
Navigation & Structure (UX01, UX05, UX10, UX13)
UX01: Clear Site Navigation
- Menu or nav bar visible and accessible
- Links to main categories present
- Navigation consistent across all pages
- Mobile menu accessible on smaller screens
UX05: Internal Link Paths
- Every page reachable within 3 clicks from homepage
- No orphan pages (unreachable from navigation)
- Breadcrumbs helpful where applicable
- Related content links present
UX10: Search & Filtering
- If site has >30 pages, search box present
- Category filters functional
- Results relevant and complete
UX13: Link Functionality
- All links working (no 404s in navigation)
- Links open in expected context (not unexpected new tabs)
- Link text descriptive
Ad & Content Presentation (UX02, UX03, UX06, UX08, UX09)
UX02: Content-to-Ad Ratio (Active Phase Critical)
- Ads occupy <30% of visible viewport
- Content is dominant visual element
- Users see content before scrolling
UX03: No Intrusive Interstitials
- No full-screen pop-ups on page load that block reading
- Pop-ups either absent or easily closeable
- Google requires dismissal to proceed to content
UX06: No Deceptive UI
- No fake "close" buttons disguised as X
- No fake download buttons linking to ads
- No misleading CTAs (e.g., "Skip Ad" buttons)
- Ad labels clear and honest
UX08: Ad Placement
- Ads not directly adjacent to navigation buttons
- Ads not above search bars
- Ads not obscuring important content
- Clear separation from interactive elements
UX09: Return Button Not Hijacked
- Browser back button works correctly
- Doesn't redirect to unexpected page
- Native behavior preserved
Typography & Readability (UX04, UX11)
UX04: Readable Typography
- Body text ≥14px (16px ideal)
- Line-height 1.4-1.8 for readability
- Sufficient letter-spacing
- Paragraph lengths reasonable (not walls of text)
- Font choices readable (avoid excessive decorative fonts)
UX11: Color Contrast (WCAG AA)
- Normal text: contrast ratio ≥4.5:1
- Large text (≥18px): contrast ratio ≥3:1
- Test all text colors against backgrounds
- Tools: WAVE, Axe, WebAIM Contrast Checker
Accessibility (UX12 + WCAG)
UX12: Image Alt Text
- Informative images have descriptive alt text
- Decorative images use alt=""
- Alt text concise but descriptive
- Not just filename or "image"
WCAG AA Compliance:
- Perceivable: Text alternatives, adaptable content, distinguishable
- Operable: Keyboard accessible, enough time, seizure prevention
- Understandable: Readable, predictable, input assistance
- Robust: Compatible with assistive technologies
Browser & Device Compatibility (UX07, UX14)
UX07: Cross-Browser Compatibility
- Chrome: Recent version
- Firefox: Recent version
- Safari: Recent version
- Layout, content, functionality work on all
UX14: Mobile Responsiveness
- Viewport meta tag present and correct
- Layout adapts to mobile screen sizes
- Touch targets ≥48×48px
- Text readable without zooming
- Navigation accessible on mobile
Footer & Legal (UX15)
UX15: Footer/Legal Links
- Privacy policy link accessible
- Contact information present
- Social media links (if applicable)
- Copyright notice
- About/contact footer links
Output Formats
Visual Survey Report
# UX Compliance Report
## Overall Score: 74/100
### Critical Issues
[Screenshot] UX02: Content-to-ad ratio 45%
→ Ads take up more than 30% of viewport
[Screenshot] UX03: Intrusive pop-up on page load
→ Full-screen overlay blocks content for 3 seconds
### High Priority
[Screenshot] UX04: Body text only 13px
→ Some users may struggle to read
[Screenshot] UX11: Color contrast 3.2:1
→ Below WCAG AA requirement of 4.5:1
JSON Accessibility Report
{
"audit_date": "2026-05-03",
"site_url": "https://example.com",
"score_mode": "Core 79 + Profile",
"items_evaluated": ["UX01", "UX02", "UX03", "UX04", "UX05", "UX06", "UX07", "UX08", "UX09", "UX10", "UX11", "UX12", "UX13", "UX14", "UX15"],
"overall_score": 74,
"accessibility_score": 74,
"wcag_level": "AA",
...
...
WCAG Audit Details
- All WCAG AA criteria status (Pass/Fail)
- Violations grouped by criterion
- Specific elements and line numbers
- Examples and fix suggestions
Supported Check Modes
URL Mode
- Visual crawl of live site
- Screenshot capture at various viewport sizes
- Automated accessibility scanning
- Real device testing (if available)
Design File Mode
- Upload mockups or design files
- Check design against UX standards
- Verify accessibility in design phase
Manual Mode
- Interactive guided UX assessment
- Manual screenshot upload
- Answer questions about UX decisions
- Step-by-step accessibility review
Automated Accessibility Testing
Optional scripts for accessibility scanning:
npm run a11y-audit https://example.com
npm run wcag-report
npm run screenshot-compare mobile desktop
Outputs:
accessibility-violations.json - Issues by criterionwcag-report.md - Human-readable reportscreenshots/ - Annotated screenshotscontrast-failures.csv - Color contrast issues
Integration with Other Skills
[ux-compliance-audit] provides input to:
└─→ [ux-optimization-roadmap]
├─→ Navigation restructuring
├─→ Typography improvements
├─→ Color/contrast fixes
├─→ Ad placement strategies
└─→ Mobile optimization
[ads-readiness-assessment] calls this skill
[resubmission-readiness-check] verifies fixes
Common UX Issues & Fixes
Poor Contrast (UX11)
Problem: Text hard to read on background
Fix: Adjust colors to meet 4.5:1 ratio
Time: 30-60 min for whole site
Priority: HIGH
Content Buried in Ads (UX02, UX03)
Problem: More ads than content visible
Fix: Remove or relocate ads
Time: 1-2 hours
Priority: CRITICAL - blocks approval
Intrusive Interstitials (UX03)
Problem: Full-screen pop-ups blocking content
Fix: Remove or make easily dismissible
Time: 30-60 min
Priority: CRITICAL - blocks approval
Tiny Text (UX04)
Problem: Body text <14px, hard to read
Fix: Increase font size and line-height
Time: 2-4 hours
Priority: HIGH
No Mobile Menu (UX14)
Problem: Navigation unreadable on mobile
Fix: Implement responsive mobile menu
Time: 4-8 hours
Priority: HIGH
Missing Alt Text (UX12)
Problem: Images lack descriptions
Fix: Add descriptive alt text to all images
Time: 30-60 min
Priority: MEDIUM
Accessibility Best Practices
- Test with Real Users: Get feedback from users with disabilities
- Keyboard Navigation: Ensure all functions accessible via keyboard
- Color Alone: Don't use color as only distinguishing factor
- Text Alternatives: Alt text for images, captions for videos
- Clear Language: Avoid jargon, use simple sentences
- Responsive Design: Works on all screen sizes and devices
- Page Structure: Proper heading hierarchy and semantic HTML
Next Steps
- Critical Issues: Fix intrusive ads and poor contrast immediately
- Accessibility: Add missing alt text and color contrast fixes
- Mobile: Ensure responsive design and mobile menu
- Testing: Re-run audit after improvements
- Verification: Use
resubmission-readiness-check before submission
Related Skills:
- Fix UX issues →
ux-optimization-roadmap
- Full site assessment →
ads-readiness-assessment
- Final verification →
resubmission-readiness-check
