3.2.4: Consistent Identification

What it means

Components with the same function are identified consistently across pages. Icons, labels, and alt text for the same action should match.

A magnifying glass should always mean Search, not sometimes Search and sometimes Explore.

How to fix it

• Use the same label and icon for search on every template.
• Standardise download, print, and share controls across the site.
• Align design system names with accessible names.
• Avoid renaming the same function per department without reason.

Quick examples

• Good: Every page uses a magnifier icon labelled “Search” for site search.
• Bad: One template labels checkout “Pay now” and another “Complete purchase” for the identical step.
• Good: PDF downloads always use the same icon and “Download PDF” text.
• Bad: Help is a question mark on some pages and a life ring on others with different labels.