RD 1112/2018
The Spanish royal decree on the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile apps. It is the rule most often mixed up with the ones for online shops.
About the rule
- Type
- Spanish royal decree
- Date of the rule
- 7 September 2018
- Publication
- BOE no. 227, 19 September 2018
- Directive it transposes
- Directive (EU) 2016/2102
- Official source
- BOE-A-2018-12699, Royal Decree 1112/2018
What it says, in broad terms
As its title says, it deals with the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile device applications. It is addressed to public administrations and bodies, not to private online shops.
A private shop is not in scope just because it sells. It may matter if you work for a public body or a public client asks your site to follow its criteria.
The four principles of web accessibility
WCAG, the technical reference we measure against, groups its criteria into four principles.
Perceivable
Visitors can perceive the information by sight, hearing or touch. For example, alternative text on product photos or enough contrast on buttons.
Operable
Everything can be used with a keyboard and without unfair time limits, and controls are big enough to press.
Understandable
Text reads well, the site behaves as expected and form errors say what happened and how to fix it.
Robust
The code is interpreted correctly by different browsers and by assistive technologies such as screen readers.
Who it is addressed to
A summary of its scope by type of body. The official text spells out each case.
Public administrations
The central government, the regional governments and local bodies, with their websites and mobile apps.
Public law bodies
Public law bodies linked to or depending on the administrations.
Websites and apps
Public sector websites and mobile device apps, including the content they publish.
Private bodies with a public link
Private bodies in some cases, for example if they provide a public service. This is a point to review.
What we measure
- Text contrast: at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (WCAG 2.2, criterion 1.4.3). Method: an automatic check in the browser, with the value and its threshold.
- Form labels, alternative text and page structure, with the same automatic check and the same partial coverage.
What we don't measure
- Whether this rule applies to you. A private online shop is normally not its direct addressee.
- The accessibility statement or the contact mechanism the rule asks public bodies for.
- Keyboard and screen reader tests by a person: only in the diagnosis with human review.
Pending review by an adviser or lawyer
We could not confirm this against the official source, or it depends on your case. Don't take it as valid until someone has reviewed it.
- Whether your company is in scope because it provides a public service or has a public sector client.
- Which technical standard the decree requires and in which version (the EN 301 549 page explains the relationship in broad terms).
- Adaptation deadlines and the complaints regime. We don't summarise them here.
Open the official source. Page written on 1 November 2026.
Other rules you may have heard of
Each one answers a different question. The pages complement each other.
Law 11/2023
The Spanish law that transposes the European directive on the accessibility of products and services. Here is what it says in broad terms and what we can measure on an online shop.
See the page
WCAG
The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. They are not a law: they are the technical reference we measure against.
See the page
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a United States law. It only matters to you if you sell or provide a service there, and it is a subject for a lawyer.
See the page
EAA
The European Accessibility Act is Directive (EU) 2019/882. It is the European rule that affects people who sell online the most.
See the page
EN 301 549
The European standard for the accessibility requirements of ICT products and services. It is technical and voluntary on its own, but other rules take it as a reference.
See the page
Start by measuring your shop.
The automatic audit measures what can be measured from the outside and tells you what is left for your adviser or lawyer.