• Success Criterion 1.4.3
  • Conformance level AA

Link Text With Contrast Too Low Against the Page Background

1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum)

Scenario

Setting

A hospital's patient portal appointment scheduler

What’s wrong

Link text vs — page background below 4.5:1 (distinct from 1.4.1 link-vs-body issue).

Example 

a.reschedule-link { color: #8ea9c9; background: #ffffff; }
<!-- roughly 2.9:1 against the white portal background, under the 4.5:1 minimum -->

Why it matters

A patient trying to move their appointment can't locate the reschedule link against the portal's white background.

How to test

Measure link text (not just surrounding body text) against the page background with a contrast checker: it needs its own 4.5:1.

How to fix

Darken the link color to roughly 5.9:1 against white; a link needs to clear 4.5:1 on its own, separate from any underline cue.

a.reschedule-link { color: #1a4d8f; background: #ffffff; }

Outcome

The patient finds and clicks the reschedule link right away instead of calling the clinic to ask for help.

Who is affected

Low-vision users and older patients, who make up a large share of patient-portal traffic and need clearer link text.

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