- Success Criterion 1.4.1
- Conformance level A
Link Color That Only Changes on Mouse Hover
1.4.1 — Use of Color
Scenario
Setting
A public library's catalog search
What’s wrong
Link color hover-only differentiation (relies on pointer interaction — keyboard/color-blind users get nothing).
Example
<span class="required-field"></span> <!-- red asterisk only -->Why it matters
People with color-vision deficiency, low vision, or constrained viewing conditions such as strong glare.
How to test
Check link styling without hovering: if links look identical to body text until you hover over them, keyboard and touch users get no visual cue at all — it fails.
How to fix
A second visual cue (text, underline, icon, or pattern) must convey the information alongside color.
<span class="required-field">* <span class="visually-hidden">required</span></span>Color alone (a red dot or border) can't be the only signal — pair it with text or an icon plus label.
Outcome
On a public library's catalog search, this barrier is gone for people with color-vision deficiency — they no longer have to work around this.
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)
Related scenarios
- Chart Legend Colors Never Explained in the Image’s Alt Text
- In-Text Links Distinguishable From Body Text Only by Color
- Required or Error Fields Marked Only by a Red Border
- Chart Data Series Told Apart Only by Line or Bar Color
- Online/Offline Status Shown Only as a Colored Dot
- Form Validation That Turns Borders Red as the Only Cue