Web Site Standards and Guidelines [pdf 709k]

Introduction
The New Jersey State Web Site Standards and Guidelines herein establishes the minimum standards to be followed on all executive branch department, agency, commission, program, and enterprise Web sites. In addition, this document contains recommendations and, where appropriate, explanations and references for further information. Each of the following standards and recommendations addresses one or more of three major areas: branding, accessibility, and functionality.

Branding is pivotal to the state's goal of providing a consistent, seamless look and feel to the state's Web presence. Branding encompasses matters of site architecture, navigation, layout, graphics, colors and fonts, minimum page elements, and consistent terminology, usage, and spelling.

Accessibility issues address the need to make all state Web pages accessible to three groups:

  • people using various technologies (for example, browsers, search engines, operating systems, wireless systems),
  • people with disabilities (including visual, mobility, and cognitive/language impairments), and
  • people accessing our pages from other countries.
  • people accessing our pages from other countries. Accessibility issues affect layout and design, navigation, graphics and sound, use of software other than HTML, use of multimedia elements, file size, and usage conventions. As of January 1, 2004, state Web sites were expected to meet the requirements outlined in the state accessibility statement (http://www.nj.gov/accessibility.html ).

Functionality issues include content organization and presentation, adoption of common software, Web publishing tools, plug-ins, addressing schema, and file-naming conventions.

Starting immediately, the following standards and recommendations should be observed on all state Web sites. Additional guidelines regarding application development and accessibility are in development.