• 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 

.compose-body { color: #9ca3af; background: #ffffff; }
<!-- roughly 2.6:1, well under the 4.5:1 minimum for normal text -->

Why it matters

A user drafting an important email has to squint and lean in to proofread their own message before sending it.

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

Switch to a darker gray (about 7.5:1 here) so body text stays comfortably above the 4.5:1 minimum.

.compose-body { color: #4b5563; background: #ffffff; }

Outcome

The user proofreads their draft in one pass and catches a typo before it goes out.

Who is affected

Low-vision users and older users with reduced contrast sensitivity, who need clearer text to catch typos before sending.

Learn more

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