• Success Criterion 1.4.11
  • Conformance level AA

Ghost Button on a Photo With Contrast Below the Minimum

1.4.11 — Non-text Contrast

Scenario

Setting

A survey tool's question builder

What’s wrong

Ghost/outline buttons on hero images falling below 3:1.

Example

Picture a survey tool's question builder: ghost/outline buttons on hero images falling below 3:1.

Why it matters

Low-vision and color-blind people who need to perceive controls and meaningful graphics. In this case (a survey tool's question builder), they can't read the text against its background.

How to test

Measure a ghost/outline button's border against the hero image or photo behind it at its lowest-contrast point: 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

Once corrected, a survey tool's question builder lets them tell the information apart without relying on color.

Who is affected

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

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