Accessibility Tip: Don’t Rely on Color Alone to Convey Meaning

Accessibility Tip: Don’t Rely on Color Alone to Convey Meaning

Color can be a helpful visual cue, but when it’s the only way information is communicated, that information becomes inaccessible to many people. For example, users with color-vision differences (such as red-green color blindness), low vision, partial sight, limited display capabilities, or those printing content in black and white may not be able to perceive color differences at all.

What to Avoid

• Using color alone in charts or graphs to show differences between data sets.
• Instructions like “click the red button” or “items in green are required” without any other indication.
  
  

Better Practices

• Add text labels or legends so meaning doesn’t depend solely on color.
• Use patterns, shapes, icons, or symbols in addition to color to differentiate information (for example, patterned fills in graphs).
• Ensure symbols are clear and consistent so users understand your message even without color perception.
  
  

Color can still be used to enhance understanding, but never as the only method for conveying essential information.

Learn more: Avoid using color alone to convey meaning