- Success Criterion 1.3.3
- Conformance level A
- W3C reference F26
Instruction Given Only Through an Icon, With No Text Meaning
1.3.3 — Sensory Characteristics
Scenario
Setting
A real-estate marketplace's listing page
What’s wrong
An instruction is given only through a symbol or icon (an arrow, a checkmark) with no text — its meaning isn't available to screen reader users.
Example
Consider a real-estate marketplace's listing page: an instruction is given only through a symbol or icon (an arrow, a checkmark) with no text — its meaning isn't available to screen reader users.
Why it matters
Blind, low-vision, and color-blind people when instructions mention only appearance or sound. The practical effect on a real-estate marketplace's listing page: they can't navigate the content by its real structure.
How to test
Read any icon-only instruction: if the only way to know what to do is interpret a symbol with no accompanying text, it fails.
How to fix
Accompany every instructional symbol with text stating what it means or what to do.
Outcome
That one change on a real-estate marketplace's listing page means they understand how the page is organized, specifically for the “Instruction Given Only Through an Icon, With No Text Meaning” issue on a real-estate marketplace's listing page.
Who is affected
Blind, low-vision, and color-blind people when instructions mention only appearance or sound.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
- Technique Related technique (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Instructions That Identify Something Only by Shape or Position
- Instruction That Tells Users to Click ‘the Green Button’
- Instruction That Says ‘See the Sidebar’ With No Other Locator
- Instruction That Identifies a Button Only by Its Size
- Instruction That Relies on an Audio Cue With No Visual Backup
- Instruction That Relies on a Swipe Direction With No Named Alternative