Runtime Fixes
How WP Comply Pro applies accessibility fixes server-side when pages render.
What are runtime fixes?
Runtime fixes are server-side modifications applied to your HTML when WordPress renders a page. Unlike overlays that add JavaScript to the browser, runtime fixes modify the HTML output before it reaches the visitor.
This means:
- No JavaScript is loaded for visitors
- Zero performance impact on the frontend
- Works with caching — fixes are applied before the page is cached
- Screen readers see clean HTML — no overlay interference
How it works
WP Comply Pro hooks into WordPress’s output buffer. When a page is rendered:
- WordPress generates the HTML as normal
- WP Comply’s server-side filter processes the HTML
- Fixes are applied based on your scan results and fix configuration
- The modified HTML is sent to the visitor (or cached)
Processing adds approximately 1ms of server-side time per page, with results cached for subsequent requests.
Available runtime fixes
Heading hierarchy correction
When headings skip levels (e.g., h1 → h3), WP Comply adjusts the heading elements to maintain proper hierarchy while preserving visual styling via CSS classes.
Before:
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h3>Section Title</h3> <!-- Skips h2 -->After:
<h1>Page Title</h1>
<h2 class="wp-comply-fixed-heading">Section Title</h2>Form label injection
For form inputs without associated labels, WP Comply adds <label> elements using the input’s placeholder, title, or surrounding text as the label content.
Skip link insertion
WP Comply adds a “Skip to main content” link at the top of each page. This link is visually hidden but accessible to keyboard and screen reader users.
Focus style enhancement
Adds visible focus indicators to interactive elements that lack them, using CSS that respects your theme’s color scheme.
Configuration
Go to WP Comply → Settings → Runtime Fixes to enable or disable individual fixes:
| Fix | Default |
|---|---|
| Heading hierarchy | Enabled |
| Form labels | Enabled |
| Skip link | Enabled |
| Focus styles | Enabled |
You can also exclude specific pages or post types from runtime fixes.
Compatibility
Runtime fixes work with:
- All WordPress themes
- WooCommerce
- Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, and other page builders
- Caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache)
- CDNs (Cloudflare, Fastly, etc.)