HTML Lang Attribute
The HTML lang attribute tells screen readers and browsers which language your content is in, directly affecting how assistive technology pronounces your text. SaaSalyst checks whether your homepage includes a lang attribute on the <html> element — a WCAG 2.1 Level A requirement.
What SaaSalyst Checks
SaaSalyst parses your homepage HTML and checks the <html> element for a lang attribute. The scanner verifies the attribute exists and contains a value (e.g., 'en', 'en-US', 'de'). A missing lang attribute triggers a failure.
Why This Matters
Without a lang attribute, screen readers must guess which language to use for pronunciation. This can make your content incomprehensible to screen reader users if the software guesses wrong.
The lang attribute also affects browser behavior: spell checking, hyphenation, and quote formatting all depend on the declared language. Search engines use it to understand your content's language for regional search results.
This is a WCAG 2.1 Level A requirement — the most basic level of accessibility compliance. Missing it signals that accessibility was not considered during development.
5,114
ADA digital accessibility lawsuits filed in the US in 2025
UsableNet
94.8%
Of websites fail basic WCAG checks
WebAIM Million 2025
77%
Of ADA lawsuits target companies under $25M revenue
AudioEye
How to Fix It
- Add lang="en" (or your appropriate language code) to your <html> element: <html lang="en">.
- For Next.js apps, set the language in next.config.js via the i18n configuration, or add it directly to your root layout.
- Use a valid BCP 47 language tag. Common values: 'en' (English), 'en-US' (American English), 'de' (German), 'fr' (French).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SaaSalyst check for the lang attribute?
SaaSalyst checks the <html> element on your homepage for a lang attribute. If the attribute is missing, it's flagged as a high-severity accessibility failure.
Why is the lang attribute important?
Screen readers use the lang attribute to determine pronunciation. Without it, SaaSalyst flags a WCAG 2.1 Level A violation because assistive technology cannot correctly read your content to users.
How does a missing lang attribute affect my Business Readiness Score?
SaaSalyst rates the lang attribute as high severity in Accessibility. It's a WCAG Level A requirement — the most basic accessibility standard — and its absence significantly impacts accessibility compliance.
References & Official Sources
Official regulatory and standards sources relevant to the checks SaaSalyst runs on your site.
- WCAG Overview— W3C
- European Accessibility Act Directive— European Union
- WebAIM Million Annual Report— WebAIM
Check Your SaaS Now — Free
SaaSalyst scans your website in 30 seconds and checks for HTML Lang Attribute along with 40+ other business readiness signals.
Scan Your App