1.4.1 Use of Color

What this criterion requires

Color must never be the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response or distinguishing an element.

Who it helps

People who are colorblind (about 1 in 12 men) and people with low vision.

Example: fails vs passes

p a { color: #0aa; text-decoration: none; }  /* links differ from text by hue only */

p a { color: #0aa; text-decoration: underline; }

Color can never be the ONLY distinguishing signal - add an underline, icon or text.

How to meet and fix it

• Underline links inside body text, or otherwise distinguish them beyond hue
• Add icons or text to state indicators ("Error:" next to red text)
• In charts, combine color with patterns, shapes or direct labels

Common failures auditors find

• Required fields indicated only by red borders
• Graph legend distinguishable only by color
• Links styled only by color inside paragraphs

Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.

In PDF documents

Applies to PDF charts and infographics exactly as on the web: information encoded in color alone (chart series, required-field marks) needs a second cue - labels, patterns or text.

Check any document against this and 80+ more automated checks with the free PDF accessibility checker.

Last updated 12 August 2026. Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.