Account creation and log-in screens
People should have a consistent experience on our websites and applications. This includes accessing and using gated content by signing in.
All account creation and sign-in interfaces must follow our web standards.
Animation and interactivity
Moving elements on a page should support getting information or doing a task. They should also not make it harder for people with motion sensitivity.
Animation or interactivity must enhance a person's ability to access and understand content.
A page must not contain content that flashes more than 3 times per second.
Exceptions:
- Flashing content is small enough.
- Flashes are low contrast.
- Flashes stay within general flash thresholds.
See how to keep the flash area small enough.
For parallax effects, use the minimum in:
- Total effects
- Amount within each effect
- Size of affected area
Provide a way to pause, stop or hide videos or animations that start playing right away and last 5 seconds or more.
Browser, device and assistive technology testing
People should be able to interact with us online regardless of the software or hardware they use. That includes modern browsers, device types and assistive technology.
We must test new websites and applications for browser or device issues. We must also test for any accessibility issues. We must test before launch.
Brand
A consistent look and feel supports the credibility and integrity of our information. It also helps people tell the difference between our websites and other websites.
All our websites and applications must follow our brand standards, applied to digital content.
Our pattern and component library has our brand standards.
Official web fonts:
- Myriad Pro
- Segoe UI
- Arial
In some cases collaborative websites must follow our brand standards. This applies to sites where we serve as the fiscal or administrative agent. Other collaborative sites must display our logo. Logo placement should follow our brand standards.
Carousels (rotating promotional slides on home pages)
Carousels have usability and accessibility problems. People have also learned to ignore them as unhelpful promotional content. So it’s best to avoid them.
But if you use a carousel, you can use several methods to reduce problems for the user:
- Save carousel space for priority content.
- Let people advance the slides themselves. Avoid auto-advancing the slides.
- Show clear controls for how to advance the slides. Ensure the controls are accessible with a keyboard.
- Make sure assistive technology can perceive when the slides advance.
- Use clear descriptive text for the slide headline.
- Advancing images must not move too fast or “flash" (see photo section).
Character encodings
Character encodings allow our websites and applications to render characters. This includes text, punctuation marks and symbols.
These must follow the requirements of the Worldwide Web Consortium.
Example: <meta charset="utf-8">
Content delivery network for common libraries
A content delivery network (CDN) lets us improve the performance of our applications. We rely on a commonly-used CDN.
- We should use trustworthy CDNs for common code libraries. These would include libraries like JQuery. These CDNs offer speed and reliability.
- CDN content must use the integrity attribute so the browser can check the file source. This makes sure the code doesn't load if the file source has been manipulated.
- CDN content must use the cross origin attribute when a request loads using 'CORS.' When not loaded from the 'same-origin' SRI checking now requires this.
Content slide outs
Effective content slide outs let users find and read additional content while staying on the page. That makes their tasks simpler and less taxing.
Slide outs are like drawers. We use them to house content on the same page rather than creating a new page. Unlike drawers that expand vertically, slide outs overlay content on top of the page.
When using slide outs create clear headings for each topic area. This lets people know what to expect when clicking.
Some county websites may not have the option to add content slide outs due to technical limits.
Our pattern and component library will eventually provide content slide out specifications for developers.
Doctype
A valid doctype tells the browser what type of HTML version our pages use. That tells the browser how to render our pages in the right way.
The doctype must meet the specifications of the Worldwide Web Consortium.
Example: <!DOCTYPE html>
Domains and subdomains
Consistent domain names support a unified digital experience. They help people know that a website or application belongs to the county.
Requirements:
- Use our primary domain name hennepin.us. or use hennepin in the domain name.
- Put subdomain in lowercase without spaces or hyphens.
- Use specific names for subdomains (for example, newapplication.hennepin.us).
- Use subdomains where a vendor is the host (for example, www.newsite.hennepin.us). Exceptions are when we must use a vendor domain (www.hennepin.vendorname.com).
- Use parallel names for all environments, for example, dev.newsite.us, stg.newsite.us, newsite.us.
Error pages
Meaningful error pages help people recover from errors. They let people find out what to do if they can’t find what they need.
We must follow the HTTP specification of the Worldwide Web Consortium.
Error pages must include:
- A plain language description of the error
- Website navigation or a search box to help people find what they need
- Information about how people can ask for help
- A design that matches the domain. For example, do not use the Hennepin.us error page for other county websites.
Favicon (shortcut icon)
Favicons label our websites and applications in browser tabs and bookmarks. They let people identify our websites and applications before visiting.
All our websites and applications must use a county favicon. It can either be the standard version or a customized version in line with our brand standards.
Download the current version of the county favicon.
Example: <link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
Homepages and footers
Good homepages make it clear that someone is on a county website or application. They also help people decide which main section to visit and let them search the site.
Home pages must:
- Display the county logo, the words Hennepin County and the name of the website or application
- Show clear navigation to other sections, pages or screens
Footers must display their content in a consistent way across all pages.
iframes
People should be able to access and understand embedded items on a page. Iframes must be used to embed items (newsletter sign-up widget, dashboards, maps) on a page. The iframe must be accessible so people using assistive technology can interact with the embedded items.
iframes must follow these standards:
- iframes that convey content to users must have a non-empty title attribute.
- The iframe title must be accurate and descriptive.
- iframes must have a unique title in the context of the page.
- The source page of an iframe should have a valid, meaningful <title>.
- The source page of an iframe should make use of semantic elements and landmarks.
- Headings should fit within the same hierarchy as the parent page.
- We should hide hidden certain iframes from assistive technologies. Those include hidden iframes and those without content. Use aria-hidden="true".
Indexing for search
Search indexing allows people to find our websites and applications with search engines. This creates a key doorway to interact with the county online.
Indexing:
- Index all public content for search engines like Google and Bing.
- Do not index non-public content.
- Where possible include all indexable content in an XML sitemap. Search engines have a stated process for submitting and getting validation for sitemaps. We should follow their process.
Language declaration
This attribute tells screen readers which language the page or page element is in. It also helps search engines and browsers identify the language of the content on the page.
We must place a language declaration on the HTML tag element. We also must place it on any other page element whose language differs from the rest of the page.
Example: <html lang="en">
Modal dialogs
Effective modal dialogs let users take an action that moves them forward in their task.
Modal dialogs overlay content on top of the page. They require the user to take an action. They are used to direct a user’s attention to important information.
When creating modal dialogs, avoid overwhelming the user with too many tasks per modal. For example, a modal could ask a user to enter all their contact details. But you would not reveal more tasks within that modal when the user completes that task. Instead you would create a new modal with new tasks.
Our pattern and component library has modal dialog specifications for developers.
Plugins
Plugins create roadblocks to accessing content. They also create security risks.
We don’t allow plugins like Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight.
We only allow open and standards-based technology like HTML5 and JavaScript.
Print style sheets
People may need help remembering content after their online visit. Or they may have cognitive issues making it harder for them to read online. So a printable version of web pages should be available.
Webpages must use CSS style declarations to optimize page content for printing.
Requirements:
- Show the words Hennepin County at the top.
- Show copyright and logo from the footer at the bottom.
- Show the page URL.
- Ensure breakpoints do not interfere with images or text.
- Allow all text content from the page to print (include collapsed and tabbed content).
Examples:
- @media print { …}
- <link media="print" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="mystyle.css">
Progressive disclosure
Progressive disclosure lets people access content a little at a time. It lets them focus only on the content they need.
Place lower on the page or on a secondary screen advanced features or ones we rarely use.
Secure URL
Secure URLs protect the connection between a user’s browser and the county’s web server. This protects the user’s data when interacting with a county website or application.
All websites and applications should have a valid SSL or TLS certificate. If they have a valid SSL or TLS certificate, each page must have a redirect to force the https protocol.
Session timeouts
Limiting the time a user’s session is available helps protect data.
We don't recommend any particular number of minutes for session timeouts but keep in mind:
For critical or time-sensitive sessions consider giving the user a warning message before closing the session.
Supported browsers
We must make sure we support the newest and most popular browsers that most people use. This ensures people can access our websites and applications.
Requirements:
- We must update our list of supported browsers on a regular basis. View our supported browsers.
- Websites and applications that don’t support these browsers must include a disclaimer. The disclaimer must appear on the homepage.
Supported software and file types
People should be able to visit us online using modern and widely available software. They should also be able to rely on secure networks.
We must not publish any content that requires unsupported or outdated systems. Those include Flash or plug-ins that only work with unsupported browsers.
We must not allow any insecure or unsupported filetypes like scripts or Zip files.
We must limit or filter files we receive or distribute to what is necessary and secured. For example, document uploads should only allow modern image filetypes or PDFs. We should also scan those files for viruses in transit to final storage.
Tables
Useful tables help people compare items. But they have accessibility issues.
Only use tables for multidimensional content, not layout.
Table requirements:
- Specify the presentation role.
- Follow accessibility standards for table markup.
Get help making a table accessible.
Text links
Link styles let people understand the state of the links they interact with. This helps links be more clear and useful.
- Use CSS to differentiate the different states of a link. This includes visited and unvisited links, and the hover, focus and active states.
- We can only style text to look like a link if it functions like a link. Styling uses the distinct bright blue color and underlining text when mousing over.
- Internal and external links should open in a new tab.
User privacy policy
A published policy lets web visitors know what data we collect from them. It also creates confidence in our promise not to exploit data for commercial use.
Web visitors must be able to access our user privacy policy.
A user privacy policy must:
- Link from the footer of every website and application
- Describe the nature and purpose of cookies set by the website or application
- Tell what features or functions people will not have access to if they do not accept cookies
Web forms
Usable web forms let people enter and submit information with ease. They create confidence in our ability to receive and manage information well.
Web forms must follow our writing guide, brand standards and the rest of the web standards.
They should have the same design as bottom-level pages.
Forms should be as concise as possible. This includes using conditional formatting where possible.
Form title and headings should follow the sequence of Hennepin.us (H1, H2, etc.).
Avoid a “clear” button.
Form fields:
- Avoid placeholder text.
- Where a visual label is not possible, use an Aria label.
- Where possible and practical use (required) instead of an asterisk for required fields.
- Where applicable provide instructions and contact information.
- Make formatting inside the form field automatic.
- Make fields wide and long enough to accommodate responses.
Button text:
- Use a word that describes the actual user action, for example, Apply, Register, Search, Log in, Order, Submit, Create account, etc.
Success pages:
- Make the message clear and succinct (for example, “We have received your submission.").
- Where relevant include next steps (for example, “We will call you in 2 to 3 business days.”).
- Where relevant include a contact.
Error messages:
- Display the message as soon as possible after the error happens.
- Make clear which field the error applies to.
- Make the error message concise and meaningful.
- Remove the error message once the form user corrects the error.
- Styling of the error message needs to be different from normal fields and help text.
Developer guidelines:
- Divide long forms into multiple pages with shorter steps.
- Avoid adding a time-out.
- Put help text under the field label.
- Avoid using tables for layout of form fields.
- Radio buttons and date pickers should be useable by screen readers.
- Avoid using color as the only characteristic that distinguishes an item.
For help creating a form, contact the Web Forms team (must have network access).