Success Criterion 1.4.3
Conformance level AA

Body Text Contrast That Falls Below the 4.5:1 Minimum

1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum)

Scenario

Setting

An email client's compose window

What’s wrong

Normal text below 4.5:1 against its actual rendered background.

Example

color: #999999; background: #ffffff; /* 2.85:1 */

Why it matters

Low-vision and older readers, plus anyone viewing a dim or sunlit screen.

How to test

Measure body paragraph text against its actual background with a contrast checker: it needs at least 4.5:1.

How to fix

The text must meet at least 4.5:1 contrast (3:1 for large text) against its actual background in every state (default, hover, focus, selected). color: #595959; background: #ffffff; /* 7:1 */ Normal text needs at least 4.5:1 contrast against its background; large text needs at least 3:1.

Outcome

On an email client's compose window, this barrier is gone for low-vision and older readers — they get the same result as anyone else here.

Who is affected