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    "title" : "An introduction to federal website standards |Digital.gov",
    "description": "An introduction to federal website standards",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/introduction-to-federal-web-standards/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"An introduction to federal website standards","deck" : "Understand how and why to use the federal website standards","summary" : "The federal website standards help agencies provide high-quality, consistent digital experiences for everyone.","date" : "2024-11-26T10:12:00-05:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","authors" : {"michelle-rago" : "Michelle Rago"},"topics" : {
        
            "content-strategy" : "Content strategy",
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            "digital-service-delivery" : "Digital service delivery",
            "governance" : "Governance",
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      "filename" :"introduction-to-federal-web-standards.md",
      
      "filepath" :"resources/introduction-to-federal-web-standards.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/resources/introduction-to-federal-web-standards.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/resources/introduction-to-federal-web-standards.md","slug" : "introduction-to-federal-web-standards","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/introduction-to-federal-web-standards/","weight" : "7","content" :"\u003ch2 id=\"what-are-the-federal-website-standards\"\u003eWhat are the federal website standards?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFederal agencies are required to comply with website standards per the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe federal website standards align with 21st Century IDEA, OMB Memo M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience, and other relevant policy requirements and best practices. The standards cover common visual and technical elements and reflect user experience best practices.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003carticle class=\"dg-ring\" aria-labelledby=\"d3c07a7c1ff0bd985d4ba50f5974f71d\"\u003e\n  \u003ch2 id=\"d3c07a7c1ff0bd985d4ba50f5974f71d\" class=\"dg-ring__title\"\u003eUnderstand the policy framework\u003c/h2\u003e\n  \u003ca href=\"https://digital.gov/resources/delivering-digital-first-public-experience/\"\u003eExplore the requirements for delivering a digital-first public experience in 21st Century IDEA and M-23-22\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/article\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe standards website includes pending standards that will be required after a specific period of time and standards that are in development so you can contribute to the process. Each standard includes acceptance criteria that specify how to comply with the standard.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisit \u003ca href=\"https://standards.digital.gov/\"\u003estandards.digital.gov\u003c/a\u003e to learn more about the federal website standards.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"why-are-the-federal-website-standards-important\"\u003eWhy are the federal website standards important?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost people interact with the federal government online. There are about \u003ca href=\"https://analytics.usa.gov/\"\u003e2 billion visits to federal websites\u003c/a\u003e by the public every month. It is critical that government websites and digital services are effective and easy to use.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe federal website standards help agencies provide high-quality, consistent digital experiences for everyone. And, increased standardization and cross-government collaboration can reduce implementation costs for all agencies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-are-standards-developed\"\u003eHow are standards developed?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGSA’s \u003ca href=\"https://tts.gsa.gov/\"\u003eTechnology Transformation Services\u003c/a\u003e manages standards development and publication through the Federal Website Standards program.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe standards are developed through an open and iterative process involving federal agencies, the public, and other stakeholders and are published incrementally in the following four stages:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResearch:\u003c/strong\u003e The standard is being researched with the public, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDraft:\u003c/strong\u003e The standard has been drafted and is being shared with federal agencies and other stakeholders for feedback and iteration.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePending:\u003c/strong\u003e The standard has been finalized. It will be required after a specified time period following its move to the pending status. Federal agencies can begin working to comply with pending standards.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRequired:\u003c/strong\u003e Federal agencies are required to comply with this standard.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisit the standards website to read more about \u003ca href=\"https://standards.digital.gov/about/\"\u003ehow standards are developed\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-can-i-do-next\"\u003eWhat can I do next?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a federal web practitioner, you can take the following actions:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReview the standards at \u003ca href=\"http://standards.digital.gov/standards\"\u003estandards.digital.gov/standards\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConsider how the standards apply to your websites and digital services that are intended for use by the public.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlan to evaluate your compliance with the \u003ca href=\"https://standards.digital.gov/standards/#:~:text=at%20this%20time.-,Pending,-Pending%20standards%20are\"\u003epending standards\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShare this information with digital teams in your agency.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also browse related resources:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFamiliarize yourself with \u003ca href=\"https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/overview/\"\u003eU.S. Web Design System components\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExplore topical guides, blogs, and events on Digital.gov:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://digital.gov/topics/digital-service-delivery/\"\u003eDigital service delivery\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://digital.gov/topics/governance/\"\u003eGovernance\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://digital.gov/topics/information-architecture/\"\u003eInformation architecture\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"get-involved\"\u003eGet involved\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo share your feedback on the federal website standards, email GSA’s standards team at \u003ca href=\"mailto:website.standards@gsa.gov\"\u003ewebsite.standards@gsa.gov\u003c/a\u003e or join a \u003ca href=\"https://github.com/GSA-TTS/federal-website-standards/discussions\"\u003ediscussion on GitHub\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also join Digital.gov’s \u003ca href=\"https://digital.gov/communities/web-content-managers/\"\u003eWeb Managers Community\u003c/a\u003e to learn more about how other government web practitioners implement governance strategies and manage their content.\u003c/p\u003e\n"}
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