Success Criterion 1.4.11
Conformance level AA

Focus Indicator Present but Below the Contrast Minimum

1.4.11 — Non-text Contrast

Scenario

Setting

A hotel booking site's room-selection page

What’s wrong

Focus indicator below 3:1 against background (visible but insufficient).

Example

border: 1px solid #dcdcdc; /* icon outline, ~1.2:1 against white */

Why it matters

Low-vision and color-blind people who need to perceive controls and meaningful graphics.

How to test

Tab to a control and measure the focus indicator's own color against the background: it must be visible AND meet 3:1, not merely present.

How to fix

The visual element (border, icon, indicator, state marker) must have at least 3:1 contrast against adjacent colors in every state. border: 1px solid #767676; /* ~4.5:1 */ Icons, borders, and other non-text UI elements need at least 3:1 contrast to stay visible.

Outcome

On a hotel booking site's room-selection page, this barrier is gone for low-vision and color-blind people who need to perceive controls and meaningful graphics — they can complete the task without hitting this wall.

Who is affected