📚 WCAG Contrast Guide
Learn about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) color contrast requirements and best practices for creating accessible web content.
🎯 WCAG Standards
Understanding the different levels of WCAG compliance and their requirements.
- AA Standard: Minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text
- AAA Standard: Minimum 7:1 for normal text, 4.5:1 for large text
- Large Text: 18pt+ regular or 14pt+ bold text
- Normal Text: Text smaller than large text thresholds
- Non-text: 3:1 minimum for UI components and graphics
📏 Text Size Guidelines
How text size affects contrast requirements and accessibility compliance.
- 18px+ Regular: Considered large text
- 14px+ Bold: Also considered large text
- Smaller Sizes: Require higher contrast ratios
- Font Weight: Bold text can be smaller while maintaining readability
- Font Family: Sans-serif fonts generally more accessible
🎨 Color Theory
Understanding how colors interact and affect contrast perception.
- Luminance: Brightness of colors affects contrast calculation
- Hue Independence: Don't rely only on color to convey information
- Color Blindness: Test with different types of color vision deficiency
- Cultural Context: Colors may have different meanings across cultures
- Brand Colors: Ensure brand colors meet accessibility standards
🛠️ Testing Methods
Different ways to test and validate color contrast in your designs.
- Automated Tools: Use contrast checkers and analyzers
- Manual Testing: Review with users who have visual impairments
- Browser Extensions: Real-time contrast checking tools
- Design Tools: Built-in accessibility features in design software
- Screen Readers: Test with assistive technologies
✅ Best Practices
Guidelines for creating accessible color schemes and maintaining good contrast.
- Exceed Minimums: Aim for higher contrast ratios when possible
- Dark Mode: Ensure accessibility in both light and dark themes
- Focus States: Maintain contrast for interactive elements
- Error Messages: Use sufficient contrast for important information
- Icons & Graphics: Apply contrast rules to non-text elements
🚫 Common Mistakes
Avoiding frequent accessibility pitfalls in color and contrast design.
- Light Gray Text: Often fails minimum contrast requirements
- Color-Only Information: Using only color to indicate status
- Placeholder Text: Usually has insufficient contrast
- Disabled States: May not meet contrast requirements
- Gradients: Text over gradients can have variable contrast