• Success Criterion 1.4.11
  • Conformance level AA

Error Icon or Asterisk With Contrast Too Low to See

1.4.11 — Non-text Contrast

Scenario

Setting

A language-learning app's lesson screen

What’s wrong

Error icons/asterisks that carry state <3:1.

Example

On a language-learning app's lesson screen: error icons/asterisks that carry state <3:1.

Why it matters

Low-vision and color-blind people who need to perceive controls and meaningful graphics. On a language-learning app's lesson screen specifically, they can't perceive the control's boundary or state.

How to test

Measure error icons or asterisks that carry required-field/error state against their background: 3:1 minimum.

How to fix

The visual element (border, icon, indicator, state marker) must have at least 3:1 contrast against adjacent colors in every state.

Outcome

Fixed, a visitor to a language-learning app's lesson screen can see the control's boundary and current state.

Who is affected

Low-vision and color-blind people who need to perceive controls and meaningful graphics.

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