- Success Criterion 1.4.1
- Conformance level A
Online/Offline Status Shown Only as a Colored Dot
1.4.1 — Use of Color
Scenario
Setting
A nonprofit's donation form
What’s wrong
Status conveyed only by color: red/green dots for offline/online, red row = overdue.
Example
On a nonprofit's donation form, a visitor hits this wall: status conveyed only by color: red/green dots for offline/online, red row = overdue.
Why it matters
People with color-vision deficiency, low vision, or constrained viewing conditions such as strong glare. On a nonprofit's donation form, this barrier means they miss information conveyed only by color.
How to test
View status indicators (dots, badges) in grayscale: if red/green (or similar) is the only way to tell states apart, it fails.
How to fix
A second visual cue (text, underline, icon, or pattern) must convey the information alongside color.
Outcome
Corrected, a nonprofit's donation form now lets a visitor see the control's boundary and current state.
Who is affected
People with color-vision deficiency, low vision, or constrained viewing conditions such as strong glare.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
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