Use of Color - Success Criterion 1.4.1 (Level A)

Question

Are you ensuring that color is not the only means of providing information or distinguishing visual content?

Why is this important?

Although the use of color is an integral and effective part of product design, some users have difficulty perceiving color. When color is used as the only way to convey important information, the color may not be seen at all by users with color deficiencies.

Whom does it benefit?

Example 1

As a person with color blindness who cannot see red,
I want input form fields that convey errors or “required” information to have text prompts in addition to color cues
so that I can identify input fields that need to be corrected or completed.

Example 2

As a person with limited sight, I find it difficult to differentiate between colors in a chart.
I want data identified by both colors and patterns
so that I can understand the content presented in the manner intended.

What should you do?

When using color to indicate information, ensure that there are additional methods used to convey the same meaning.

Note: This does not mean that visual design should abandon creative use of color, but rather that color should not be the only method implemented.

How do you do it?

When using color to convey information, also include textual presentation of the same information.

Some suggested techniques that use color:

• Include icons, shapes or patterns with alternative text
  
• Add text legends near the image, table, chart or graph
  
• Add alternative text summary of the information being presented
  

Need technical guidance?

Technical guidance is available for implementing this Success Criterion at the Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.1: Use of Color page.

Additional resources to help you

• Charts & Accessibility - University of Penn State
  
• Accessible Color - University of California, San Francisco
  
• UI Components - Colors - U.S. Web Design System
  
• Colour Contrast Analyzer - The Paciello Group