accessibility glossary

Sensory Characteristics

A WCAG success criterion (1.3.3, Level A) prohibiting instructions that rely solely on shape, size, color, sound, or position to identify content or controls.

Sensory Characteristics prohibits instructions like Click the green button or See the square icon on the right when that description is the only way to identify the control. Instructions need a text-based identifier as well, such as a visible label or name, so the reference still works for someone who cannot perceive color, shape, or position the way a sighted mouse user does.

A common failure is instructing users to use the round button next to the price to add an item to cart, when the button has no accessible text label at all.

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