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About
Tenon was a developer-focused web accessibility testing tool built around a robust REST API that allowed teams to scan web pages and applications for accessibility issues in real time. It tested against WCAG 2.0/2.1 and Section 508 standards, returning detailed reports on violations, severity levels, and remediation guidance. Tenon was particularly valued by development and QA teams for its ability to integrate directly into CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated accessibility checks as part of the build process. The platform supported single-page scanning, batch testing, and programmatic access via its API, making it easy to embed accessibility testing into existing workflows without manual audits. It also offered a browser extension for on-the-fly page analysis. Tenon was used by enterprises, government agencies, and software vendors needing to demonstrate compliance with accessibility regulations such as the ADA, Section 508, and WCAG. Following its acquisition by Level Access, Tenon was officially sunset on August 7, 2023, and its customers were migrated to Level Access's broader accessibility platform, which offers automated scanning, manual auditing, AI-powered remediation, and governance tools.
Key Features
- REST API for Accessibility Testing: A powerful API that allowed developers to programmatically scan any URL or HTML snippet for WCAG 2.0/2.1 and Section 508 accessibility violations.
- CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Enabled teams to embed automated accessibility checks directly into build and deployment pipelines, catching issues before they reached production.
- Detailed Violation Reporting: Returned structured JSON reports including violation descriptions, severity levels, affected elements, and remediation guidance.
- Browser Extension: Offered a browser extension for quick, on-demand accessibility scans of live web pages without requiring API setup.
- Batch Testing Support: Supported bulk scanning of multiple pages or entire site sections for large-scale accessibility audits.
Use Cases
- Integrating automated WCAG compliance checks into a CI/CD pipeline to block deployments with critical accessibility violations.
- Running bulk accessibility scans across large websites or web applications to identify and prioritize remediation efforts.
- Embedding real-time accessibility testing into a custom CMS or content publishing workflow via the Tenon REST API.
- Providing development teams with immediate feedback on accessibility violations during local development using the browser extension.
- Demonstrating Section 508 and WCAG compliance to government or enterprise clients as part of contract requirements.
Pros
- Developer-Friendly API: The REST API made it straightforward to integrate accessibility testing into any toolchain or workflow, reducing manual effort.
- WCAG & Section 508 Coverage: Comprehensive coverage of major accessibility standards gave teams confidence in their compliance posture.
- CI/CD Ready: First-class support for pipeline integration allowed accessibility to be treated as a first-class quality gate alongside unit and integration tests.
Cons
- Now Discontinued: Tenon.io was sunset on August 7, 2023, and is no longer available as a standalone product; users must migrate to Level Access.
- Automated Testing Limitations: Like all automated accessibility tools, Tenon could only detect a subset of WCAG issues; manual auditing was still required for full compliance assurance.
- Cost for Scale: Higher-volume API usage was gated behind paid plans, making it less accessible for small teams or individual developers with tight budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tenon still available?
No. Tenon.io was officially shut down on August 7, 2023. Existing Tenon customers were transitioned to Level Access, which acquired Tenon and offers a broader digital accessibility platform.
What was Tenon used for?
Tenon was used to automatically scan websites and web applications for accessibility issues based on WCAG 2.0/2.1 and Section 508 standards, primarily via a REST API integrated into development workflows.
Can Tenon's API still be used?
No, the Tenon API is no longer operational following the August 2023 sunset. Developers should explore Level Access or alternative accessibility testing APIs such as axe-core.
What is the alternative to Tenon?
Level Access now provides the enterprise accessibility platform that absorbed Tenon's capabilities. Open-source alternatives include axe-core and pa11y for API-driven accessibility testing.
Did Tenon support automated CI/CD accessibility testing?
Yes, one of Tenon's primary use cases was integrating automated accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines, allowing teams to catch violations during the build process before deploying to production.
