- 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
On a public library's catalog search: link color hover-only differentiation (relies on pointer interaction — keyboard/color-blind users get nothing).
Why it matters
People with color-vision deficiency, low vision, or constrained viewing conditions such as strong glare. On a public library's catalog search, that means they can't read the text against its background.
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.
Outcome
With the fix in place on a public library's catalog search, they tell the information apart without relying on color.
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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