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2.2.1
For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true:
Turn off: The user is allowed to turn off the time limit before encountering it; or
Adjust: The user is allowed to adjust the time limit before encountering it over a wide range that is at least ten times the length of the default setting; or
Extend: The user is warned before time expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend the time limit with a simple action (for example, "press the space bar"), and the user is allowed to extend the time limit at least ten times; or
Real-time Exception: The time limit is a required part of a real-time event (for example, an auction), and no alternative to the time limit is possible; or
Essential Exception: The time limit is essential and extending it would invalidate the activity; or
20 Hour Exception: The time limit is longer than 20 hours.
Always.
If a page automatically reloads or loads a different page, it fails if it doesn't do that immediately.
If there is a transaction or meaningful content on the page, check for time limits on the page. If you have access to the team who built the service, ask them about time limits.
To check for time limits:
- open the page in a different browser or browser profile to keep it separate from the rest of your testing
- fill in some form fields, if there are any
- wait 20 hours - if this is not practical, wait a reasonable amount of time, such as an hour
If content is still on the page and you are still able to submit any forms successfully, it's a pass.
Otherwise, the page should inform users about the time limit by either:
- displaying a countdown timer that resets every time the user interacts with the page
- prompting the user to extend the time limit before it expires
- providing a control that allows the user to stop or extend the time, with enough time to find it
- allowing the user to choose the time limit before it occurs
- if it's required as part of a real-time event, for example bidding on something in an online auction
- if it's essential, like a school exam
- if it lasts 20 hours - this is difficult to test as many modern browsers put tabs 'to sleep', so it is better to ask someone who knows the time limit
- holding, loading or redirection pages if they don't have any other meaningful content, for example a page displaying the message "the payment is processing" while a transaction completes
Give people enough time to realise that there is a time limit and learn what they can do about it.
No difference