What this criterion requires
For blocks of text, users can select colors, keep line width to 80 characters, avoid justified text, set line spacing to 1.5, and resize to 200% without horizontal scrolling.
Who it helps
People with low vision, dyslexia and other reading disabilities.
Example: fails vs passes
text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; max-width: none; /* 130-char lines */
max-width: 70ch; line-height: 1.5; text-align: start;
AAA presentation: under 80 characters per line, 1.5 spacing, no justification, user-selectable colors.
How to meet and fix it
- Keep body copy under 80 characters per line with 1.5 line height, left-aligned
- Do not fight user stylesheets or reader modes
Common failures auditors find
- Full-width justified paragraphs
- Layouts that break under user-set spacing and colors
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.4.8: Visual Presentation - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.4.8 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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