Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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H92: Including a text cue for colored form control labels

Applicability

All technologies that support color and text.

This technique relates to:

Description

The objective of this technique is to combine color and text or character cues to convey information. Most users can quickly scan the content to locate information conveyed by using color differences. Users who cannot see color can look or listen for text cues; people using Braille displays or other tactile interfaces can detect text cues by touch.

Examples

Example 1: Required fields in an HTML form

The instructions for an online form say, "Required fields are shown in red and marked with (required)." The cue "(required)" is included within the label element.

Example Code:

<label for="lastname" class="required">Last name (required): </label>
<input id="lastname" type="text" size="25" value=""/>
<style type="text/css">
  .required {
    color=red;
  }
</style>

Resources

No resources available for this technique.

Tests

Procedure

For any content where color differences are used to convey information:

  1. Check that the same information is available through text or character cues.

Expected Results

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.

Techniques are Informative

Techniques are informative—that means they are not required. The basis for determining conformance to WCAG 2.0 is the success criteria from the WCAG 2.0 standard—not the techniques. For important information about techniques, please see the Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria section of Understanding WCAG 2.0.