Success Criterion 1.4.3
Conformance level AA

Low-Contrast Text Hiding in Dropdowns, Toasts, and Chips

1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum)

Scenario

Setting

A budget airline's flight search results

What’s wrong

Text in <option>s, tooltips, toasts, badges, chips overlooked in audits and failing.

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 text inside dropdown options, tooltips, toast notifications, badges, and chips specifically — these are commonly skipped in audits.

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 a budget airline's flight search results, this barrier is gone for low-vision and older readers — they reach the same outcome without extra effort.

Who is affected