Content timeliness indicator

Status

Standard

Inform users about the timeliness of content by including the date of publication, a last updated date, or a last reviewed date as relevant for your content and audience.

Why

Timeliness indicators can increase user trust in the currency and accuracy of information.

Applies to

Executive branch agency websites and digital services that are intended for use by the public

Acceptance criteria

These conditions must be met to comply with this standard.

Include timeliness indicators on the following types of content:

• News, press releases
• Announcements, alerts
• Data, statistics
• Information that changes every year or information that is likely to change every year
• Policies, regulations, legal information
• Health information

How to implement

These are tips to help you implement this standard.

• Placement: Put the timeliness indicator at the top or bottom of the page. Place the indicator in a consistent location on all pages of the same content type.
• Format: Use the full month name followed by the day and year as in this example: Updated June 27, 2024. The full month name is clearer than using an abbreviation or only numbers.
• When to change the date: Update the date if the content changes substantively. A substantive change is one that impacts the information in a way that is relevant to your audience.
• Language: Use plain language to specify when content was published, last updated, or last reviewed. Recommended phrases include:
  • Published May 8, 2024
  • Updated June 12, 2024
  • Reviewed July 1, 2024

Timeliness indicator options for types of content

Use the most appropriate indicators for the type of content being managed.

News, press releases

• Include a publication date.
• Add an “Updated” date if the information substantively changed after it was first published.

Announcements, alerts

• Include a publication date.
• Add an effective date and/or an expiration date if applicable.

Data, statistics

• Include a publication date.
• Add an “Updated” date if the information substantively changed after it was first published.
• Include the time period covered by the data.
• Include the time period during which the data was collected if it’s relevant for your audience.

Information that is likely to change every year

• Include a publication date on information that changes every year, like tax guidance.
• Add an “Updated” date if the information substantively changed after it was first published.
• Add a “Reviewed” date if the information was reviewed after publication or after being updated. For information that is likely to change every year, it’s important to let users know that the information has been reviewed even if there are no substantive changes.
• Add an effective date and/or an expiration date if applicable.

Policies, regulations, legal information

• Include a publication date.
• Add an “Updated” date if the information substantively changed after it was first published.
• Add a “Reviewed” date if the information was reviewed after publication or after being updated.
• Add an effective date and/or an expiration date if applicable.

Health information

• Include a publication date.
• Add an “Updated” date if the information substantively changed after it was first published.
• Add a “Reviewed” date if the information was reviewed after publication or after being updated.

Read more

• Use clear, unambiguous formatting and punctuation (Web Accessibility Initiative)
• Express dates and times in a clear and unambiguous way (Google developer documentation)

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