• Success Criterion 1.3.3
  • Conformance level A

Instruction Naming an Icon’s Shape Instead of Its Function

1.3.3 — Sensory Characteristics

Scenario

Setting

A public library's catalog search

What’s wrong

Icon-shape references: "tap the hamburger / the gear" without those controls having visible text or the instruction naming their function.

Example

<p>Click the round green button to submit.</p>

Why it matters

Blind, low-vision, and color-blind people when instructions mention only appearance or sound.

How to test

Read icon-shape references ('tap the hamburger', 'the gear icon') alone: check whether those controls also have visible text or an accessible name stating their function.

How to fix

Instructions must name the control or content in text, not only by shape, color, size, position, or sound.

<p>Click the <strong>Submit</strong> button (green, bottom right).</p>

Instructions must work by name, not by relying on shape, color, or position alone.

Outcome

On a public library's catalog search, this barrier is gone for blind, low-vision — they no longer have to work around this.

Who is affected

Blind, low-vision, and color-blind people when instructions mention only appearance or sound.

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