The understanding documents have not been repositories of research, they are intended to be concise how-to guides for understanding and meeting the SC. Perhaps we should link to the Mobile Accessibility Task Force's original searches? https://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/wiki/Summary_of_Research_on_Touch/Pointer_Target_Size

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Contrast in graphic design can take many forms. It can be as simple as using light and dark colors and big and small sizes. Or, it can be more complex and involve using different shapes, textures and values. Contrast is often used to create visual interest, highlight important information and catch the reader’s attention.

While the SC in its current wording indeed allows for targets to be smaller than 24 x 24 pixels, it takes away the main incentive of reducing target size below 24 x 24 px since the way target size including offset is calculated rules out compressing or packing targets in order to cram more targets into the available viewport space. Very small targets, while not ruled out as long as the minimum inter-target spacing is adhered to, would decrease usability for all users, being hard to perceive/read. They are therefore unlikely design choices by authors in a situation where each target needs a total spacing of 24 x 24 px (including offset).

This (user-agent exception) seems like an opportunity to either push the browser to update to a more accessible default, or to recommend more accessible alternatives. Ideally, some course of action that would maintain a11y would be desirable.

Article (exceptions) should clarify if these guidelines apply to custom styles for scrollbar thumbs/handles, and/or if there are any special considerations in that case.

As a design principle, contrast is all about using opposites to capture your audience’s attention and draw the eye to key parts of your message.

The research has been carried out to determine the wavelength of the POF laser using a diffraction grating. The diffraction grating used consists of three kinds ...

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The design principle contrast refers to the use of visually different elements. In addition to capturing attention, contrast can guide the viewer’s eye to a focal point, highlight important information and add variety, or even drama, to a design. Paired with other principles like proximity, it can really drive a design’s message home.

This (User-agent exception) implies that if the browser fails this, then the content authors must fix it. This conflicts with other guidance like "1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus". Changing it to "…by the user agent and is not modified by the author" would work...

Suggest "meets this criterion with no exceptions" (for the equivalent exception). By a strict reading or perhaps just through gaps in testing this standard seems to allow two equally problematic controls. What if the other target has an essential exception for some reason? If another control "meets this criterion", then that makes it so that the original control ALSO meets the criterion, setting up a potentially problematic loop.

This is more in line with our concerns that the target size is quite small, especially at an AA-level. We are worried about the churn of having to retrofit targets after further research and consensus (hopefully) justifies a larger target size. :-)

This example uses a picture of text to illustrate the exception for inline targets. A text example (rather than a picture of text) may be more clear and accessible

We aimed for that with the WCAG 2.1 SC for target size, but there are just too many interfaces on the web with smaller targets that would require a complete overhaul and negatively impact other audiences. (Including online document editors.) That requirement is at AAA. Effectively we already have done that, but at AA and AAA.

Contrastmeaning in Hindi

Here’s an example of a business card that contrasts a gritty cardboard background with clean-textured icons and text. (If the background was just a matte color, this card would be a lot less interesting visually!)

There is currently no intent to change the SC later, except perhaps as part of the WCAG 3 process. Could you explain what/why it would have severe consequences?

Recommendation: ​​We kindly request that the group remove this SC until research is completed for all affected input and interaction modalities. Allowing smaller target sizes that are presented in isolation, alone in a part of a larger UI, may reduce usability rather than improve it by negatively impacting the findability of the target in question. We’d like to see both the SC and exceptions supported with more data, and the entire SC to be rewritten to clarify a minimum target size and padding, supported by empirical data, rather than a focus on target spacing. Defining a minimum target size is certainly very important. However, setting a too-small target size at an AA-level, and then trying to increase it later may have severe consequences.

Typically, magnification is related to scaling up visuals or images to be able to see more detail, increasing resolution, using microscope, printing techniques, ...

Physics · Physics · Geometric Optics · Luminous Phenomena. Light Dispersion. the refraction. light. white light. diversion. white. color. rainbow. light ...

There is ample research into beneficial target sizes, and extant recommendations both in research and by platform providers that warrant defining minimum target size in a new SC 2.5.8. The target size of 24 x 24px was chosen as a workable compromise between extant recommendations of larger sizes (e.g., Apple’s iPhone Human Interface Guidelines recommend a minimum target size of 44 x 44 px) and the needs of interfaces where a lot of icon-based controls need to be simultaneously available (e.g., in toolbars), evidenced in many existing implementations of web-based applications.

This (note) should probably specify that the spatial selection is a continuum. A block of cards with 1px radio buttons for selection would pass the standards, even if the targets are a tiny portion of the whole display. This could even encourage creators to reformat things in this manner to bypass other requirements. Many sliders also only have discrete, individual targets for their marks, and can only be clicked in certain places. Controls can be formatted in a way that undermines their own function, and we shouldn't have an exception because it looks a certain way.

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Notice how the following infographic template uses contrasting colors to highlight the comparison between management and leadership skills. This is a simple example of using contrast to make a message clear:

Image

Reiterating this comment from #2695 since I think it's probably better-suited here: I think the "Spacing" exception is especially problematic in that I think the only study referenced in the understanding doc actually provides direct evidence that contradicts the underlying assumption behind the exception!

This is more in line with our concerns that the target size is quite small, especially at an AA-level. We are worried about the churn of having to retrofit targets after further research and consensus (hopefully) justifies a larger target size. :-)

You might think contrast is, by nature, extreme. But it’s possible to be subtle when wielding contrast, too. Playing with value progressions is a great way to add contrast without making things look too stark.

To make your design accessible, there’s a contrast ratio between text and background color you should aim for. Check out blog to learn more: 11 Actionable Graphic Design Tips for Beginners, According to Design Experts

Take a look at the contrasting shapes in the following template. With a little help from arrows in contrasting colors, the triangles and circles draw the eye throughout the design:

I think this is a misunderstanding, but I'm not sure how to prevent it. There is no mention or differentiation of the visible size of targets. It also doesn't differentiate between height and width. It could be less than 24px on both axis, if there is sufficient spacing on each axis.

I think that adding more of these references that @detlevhfischer linked earlier would be sufficient to justify the 24 CSS pixel size choice, but I don't think any of those references support the Spacing exception, and I think the specific one linked above is evidence against the Spacing exception as-written (regardless of whether the changes in #2798 are accepted).

As mentioned, bigger is better but the size is based on web-practicalities, not the ideal size. It is intentionally a baseline size that does not harm (for example) people zooming into an interface with a toolbar. That is also true of the exceptions, they are there to account for things authors cannot adequately control, or whether there are other methods of achieving the same function.

+1 to these points and the feedback raised by @dbjorge that (citing) more studies and research from additional populations would be helpful to ensure the decision is as robust as possible.

Simply put, contrast helps you get the message of your design across. It draws the eye to the most important visual element in a design — making it clear what readers should pay attention to first and foremost.

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What’s more, contrast makes for a visually appealing design. After all, if everything was matchy matchy, a design would be monotonous and boring. But sprinkle in some contrast, and you’re much more likely to engage and delight your audience.

This comment seems to be based on a previous version? There is nothing in the current SC that is encouraging smaller targets, it is a minimum, not an ideal size.

Ultimately, this seems like an especially important area to have research, a diverse set of use cases, and a specific set of content structures to keep the SC beneficial, appropriately scoped, clearly testable and verifiable, and attainable.

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Most of the examples have come from questions people have had, but we will do a review of the whole before the next stage.

All of WCAG applies to the web content, not browser chrome. If the target is a scroll bar within the content (e.g. scrollable element), then it would apply. That is the same for non-text contrast, keyboard accessibility, pointer gestures etc. That's an example that could be added to the understanding document.

In design, elements can also have different values (sometimes called tones). Simply put, value refers to how light or dark an element appears. The higher the value, the lighter the design — and vice versa. It follows that you can add contrast by using high and low values within one design.

We tried several variations of 'put a square over the target', and others, in this (experimentation doc)[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qhh9VgBC_6HD2emkvql2Hn83iSChwlhGBs5_E9gkdEM/edit]. It is ok for a minimum size, but it leads to odd results for spacing, particularly in rows of targets.

Since color is the easiest way to create contrast, it pays to have a peek at the color wheel. After all, unless you’re a designer, you probably haven’t thought about the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary colors since grade school.

Allowing smaller target sizes that are presented in isolation, alone in a part of a larger UI, may reduce usability rather than improve it by negatively impacting the findability of the target in question.

But in practice, it’s a little trickier. Knowing when to use contrast and which elements to oppose isn’t always obvious. That’s where this guide comes in. I’ll cover the different ways to use contrast in your designs a little later on, so stay tuned.

But don’t be deceived by all these colorful examples. You can create contrast just as effectively with other elements, like size, shape, texture and more.

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Paired with a wealth of white space (the breathing room around visual elements — also called negative space) and proper alignment, the bold colors in this design contrast and draw the eye right to the heart of the content. At the same time, repetition of the text treatments and shapes ensure the design still feels cohesive.

An illustration could help clarify what is meant by this exception: "The requirement does not apply to targets while they are obscured by content displayed as a result of a user interaction or scripted behavior of content"

2019531 — Optics engineers commonly require optical adhesives to bond components together during optical assembly, lens and prism bonding, optical ...

An excess of contrast creates tension and confusion in a composition. The design may come across as messy or too busy. To avoid this type of design, stick to applying contrast to place emphasis on the core message you’re trying to convey.

This (text about passing with spacing) is again related to the distinction between “target size” and “visible size”. This clarification essentially states that a target doesn’t need to be both 24 CSS pixels tall and wide; it only needs to be one of them - 24 CSS pixels tall or wide - provided that the other dimension doesn’t have adjacent targets.

“Spacing” and “target offset” seem to be used interchangeably for the same concept. One term should be used to reduce confusion.

The restrictions on this SC are more about web practicalities than the user-requirements. For example, WCAG doesn't (and cannot) differentiate between web sites that are used on mobile compared to desktop. Therefore everything has to be compatible with both.

Please consider the impact that smaller icons could have on certain users, such as those using head-mounted pointing devices, or with fine motor control challenges where the user perceives that they must click a very small target (even if the actual clickable area is larger due to invisible clickable padding, etc.)

If a target uses the "essential" exception, I don't think it could have an equivalent control elsewhere. By the definition, anything that meets the essential exception "cannot be achieved in another way that would conform".

Image

Or, you can choose colors that aren’t necessarily opposites — like blue and purple — but that are bold enough to stand out against each other:

Of the design principles, contrast is one of the most effective techniques for drawing attention to important elements or a key message. Of course, it also makes designs more visually appealing.

This comment seems to be based on a previous version? There is nothing in the current SC that is encouraging smaller targets, it is a minimum, not an ideal size.

The note is describing what is considered a target. For example, the entire editing area of a document is considered 'a target'. However, it also allows the selection of a location within that target area. It would not be feasible to make every possible cursor position 24px wide. A volume slider with 100 options would have to be 2400px tall (or wide), which is also not feasible.

Either way, combining these types of textures can add visual interest to an otherwise flat design. Distressed textures can also add rustic or retro charm to a design. If your creation is looking a little too classic or plain, adding a gritty texture is a good way to give it more character.

We kindly request that the group remove this SC until research is completed for all affected input modalities. and: +1 to these points and the feedback raised by @dbjorge that (citing) more studies and research from additional populations would be helpful to ensure the decision is as robust as possible.

The exception came from the prioritisation of not making accidental hits, and that allows for more flexibility. Obviously we do not wish to encourage small targets, but that comes from WCAG defining a baseline rather than a goal.

We did consider trying to specify a continuum, but it didn't help. E.g. if 1px selection are the smallest possible option, when is it not a continuum? 2px, 3? Not including this clarification appears to do more harm than good (balancing real uses of it verses potential gaming).

Clarify that “size” is referring to “target size”, not necessarily “visible size”. In particular this is explained in the exception for Spacing, but given that this is such a key part of understanding the SC, we feel it might be clearer if it was a core part of the requirement and not an Exception.

You can see this concept in action in the template below. The biggest circle highlights the main topic, the second largest circles highlight key data points and the smallest circles provide more context:

For example, if you’re making an infographic, it can be helpful to assign a level of importance to the different pieces of information you’re going to be visualizing. Then, you can make sure to scale these elements accordingly.

We are interpreting this new draft that this SC is not about ensuring a minimum target size; it’s about ensuring a minimum distance between adjacent targets, as illustrated by Figure 8 and Figure 9. A description could be something to the effect of: "Accessible targets for any pointer input must allow a X by X CSS pixel square to be overlaid on top of that target along all possible dimensions [include illustration], without overlapping any adjacent target." The description above with Figures 8 and 9 may be a more clear way of describing the standard and its intent than the current version.

Just like life, contrast enriches designs. It adds beauty, interest, and most of all, meaning. So if you’re in the business of creating visual communications, contrast deserves a prominent place in your toolbox.

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What is contrastin art

Magnifiers. Opticron magnifiers are available in a range of types, sizes and specifications. They are suitable for a wide range of activities from reading small ...

In many ways! As we’ve seen, you can add contrast with color, shapes and size. But there are even more techniques to be aware of…

This comment seems to be based on a previous version? There is nothing in the current SC that is encouraging smaller targets, it is a minimum, not an ideal size.

By value progressions, I simply mean adjusting the hue of different colors from light to dark. For instance, the following infographic uses a gradient from a darker pink-red color to a lighter yellow color to reinforce its message:

Image

Given that most guidance (including from Google) is for larger target sizes than the minimum required by this SC, what could more research show that would change the SC?

Here’s an example of a template that uses contrast in several different ways. For starters, the red icons stand out against the white backgrounds. The size contrast of the circles draws the eye to the big ones first. And the dates alternate between a blue and white background creating a sense of movement:

When you think of contrast, you probably think of color. So it should come as no surprise that color is one of the most common ways to use contrast in design. An easy trick is to use two colors that are opposites on the color wheel.

What is contrastin poetry

How was this (spacing) exception (the note) determined? We have some concerns about the accessibility of targets being spaced out 24px with a target size potentially being allowed at 1px. Allowing smaller target sizes that are presented in isolation, alone in a part of a larger UI, may reduce usability rather than improve it. This exception has the benefit of potentially meeting the intent of the SC (i.e., reducing the number of accidental hits of an adjacent target), but may risk reducing usability by negatively impacting the findability of the target in question.

The answer above was approved by the working group. Note that the understanding document is still undergoing review from multiple issues raised so will change further.

grating. Grating is a structural element that is commonly used in the construction and building industry. It refers to a series of parallel bars or crossbars ...

The Spacing exception is built on the assumption that if a target is crowded by other targets, then a user would tend to press on a spot on the desired target which is further away from crowding. But figure 5 in section 5.1 of Target size study for one-handed thumb use on small touchscreen devices does not consistently reflect this assumption! In that study, only buttons that were crowded on their left sides reflected the assumption; for buttons that were crowded above and below, users actually tended to press towards the crowded side.

Thank you for verifying if this was expected! I can view 23 comments in there from September 28 (and five on the first page alone). Could you please try loading the doc again?

On the linked google doc, I didn't see anything more in there, it looked like a copy of the understanding document with no comments/changes, is that correct?

Time-delay integration (TDI), also known as drift scanning, is a mode of reading out a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that allows a continuous image or scan ...

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What is contrastin photography

I agree that I would like to see the references in the Understanding Target Size document updated to include a broader set of research. In particular, while I agree with @slauriat that there should be citations that cover a broader range of input modalities and form factors, I also note that the single cited study doesn't include any study participants older than 42 - I'd like to see the SC justified by research that includes a broader representation of users.

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Incontrastsynonym

A quick way to add contrast to your designs is to pair a hard shape, like a square or rectangle, with a soft shape, like a circle or an organic figure. Hard shapes are sharp and crisp while soft shapes are more casual and laid-back, so this combo creates natural contrast.

A basic understanding of contrast can help you accomplish both. And I mean basic… you don’t need a degree in graphic design to apply contrast to your communications. In fact, this brief guide is all you need to start captivating your audience with this principle. So let’s get started!

There are several other instances of contrast in this example, too. Can you spot them? The black text contrasts with the white background, and the bolded headings contrast with the lighter descriptions. Most of us use these types of contrast every day without even thinking about it.

A veteran of newsrooms and agencies, Jennifer Gaskin is a writer, editor and designer who is the only living person not to have strong feelings on the Oxford comma. She's an award-winning practitioner of journalism and information design who spent the better part of a decade as the creative director of a digital marketing shop. As a writer, Jennifer contributes to a variety of publications while working with clients as well as taking on her own projects.

Allowing smaller target sizes that are presented in isolation, alone in a part of a larger UI, may reduce usability rather than improve it by negatively impacting the findability of the target in question.

“Success Criterion 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (Level AA): The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, except where:

The example (with the media controls) is there to assist people testing the SC. It is not trying to encourage smaller targets, in fact it saying that smaller targets (that pass) will negatively impact the layout.

Allowing smaller target sizes that are presented in isolation, alone in a part of a larger UI, may reduce usability rather than improve it by negatively impacting the findability of the target in question.

Targets that allow for values to be selected spatially based on position within the target are considered one target for the purpose of the success criterion. Examples include sliders with granular values, color pickers displaying a gradient of colors, or editable areas where you position the cursor.”

What is contrastin literature

But with a color wheel to reference, these relationships are easy to understand. And you can literally pick colors on opposite sides of the wheel to add contrast. Or, choose adjacent complementary colors.

All this to say, you can use contrast in more than one way in a design. Just remember, there’s such a thing as overdoing it with contrast. Like with anything in life (and design!), finding a balance is key. Otherwise, you might overwhelm your readers or dilute your message. Remember, your goal should always be to create a unified design design that gets your message across.

On the linked google doc, I didn't see anything more in there, it looked like a copy of the understanding document with no comments/changes, is that correct?

There is currently no intent to change the SC later, except perhaps as part of the WCAG 3 process. Could you explain what/why it would have severe consequences?

A quick rule of thumb is to use contrast to highlight key takeaways. Here’s a fun example from our viral Game of Thrones article — this template uses bold contrasting colors for the bar graphs, but sticks to a simple design otherwise. This ensures the data stands out:

Contrastexamples

That said, I do think the current spacing exception encourages smaller target sizes in some cases. For example, if an author has a goal of making a certain number of buttons fit side by side within a thin container, the current spacing exception makes that easier to achieve with smaller target sizes:

If zoom were a way to pass, nothing would fail. There would be no point in creating the SC. Also, having to zoom in to use targets may itself be difficult for people with mobility impairments, e.g. pinch zooming with tremors.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Venngage deserves a spot in it too. Between our collection of stunning templates and user-friendly visual editor, you can get a head start on any design — and wield contrast with confidence.

Free web accessibility color contrast checker tool so you can identify and fix low color contrasts on your website.

In theory, applying contrast is simple. All you need to do is use opposite or different elements: color, size, shape, texture, value… you can play with any of these visual elements to achieve contrast.

Unfortunately, because of those practicalities there is no research that would lead to a blanket requirement for a larger size. In a future version (e.g. WCAG 3) there could be a more nuanced SC which has different size requirements for different controls.

When creating business communications, these benefits are especially handy. After all, getting your audience’s attention is half the battle. The other half? Keeping their attention and conveying your message.

The earlier versions of the SC did describe it as minimum size OR size and spacing. However, it was simpler and conveyed the intent to start with a minimum size.

It isn't an exception, just outlining that content layered above a target doesn't impact how you assess that target. I.e. partially obscuring background targets doesn't suddenly make them fail.

The comment says "allowing", not "encouraging". The current SC's spacing exception allows a 1x1 px button (so long as it is at least 23px away from any other targets, ie, "presented in isolation").

The SC starts with "The size of the target", and the target is a link to the definition ("region of the display that will accept a pointer action"), so it is currently part of the core SC requirement.

Just like soft and hard shapes, combining clean and gritty textures creates an interesting contrast. A clean texture may simply be a flat, colored background, while a gritty texture may be a distressed or raised pattern.

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The only research referenced in the Understanding Target Size points to one study specific to small touchscreen devices, while the SC applies to all devices and input modalities. If other research backs this guidance up across everything on the web, then linking to that as well in the documentation should cover this concern.

This example seems to duplicate much of the information above and seems to add more word count without necessarily adding more value. Recommendation would be to clarify the core content above in order to trim this content.

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The main concern in 2.5.8 Target Size is preventing accidental activation to support users with reduced motor skills. It also benefits users in situations where they are exposed to shaking, e.g. on public transport. The gestation process of the SC went through various iterations of trying to define target size, including setting a minimum size independent of spacing. It appeared that this approach had disadvantages as it would not cover the various interactions of targets with adjacent targets in various situations, such as target overlaps or enclosure of targets in other targets.

We started at 44px at AA, but couldn't work around objections based on legitimate cases where targets needed to be smaller than that (including for people with low vision).

To create contrast with texture, simply pair it with a non-textured element, like a smooth surface. Or, combine different textures, like pairing a pattern with photography:

Incontrastin a sentence

When it comes to creating contrast with size, you’ll want to keep scale in mind — the relative size of one design element compared to another. As I touched on earlier, the scale of different elements creates a visual hierarchy, which is key for conveying your information in order of its importance.

Designs may not have physical texture, but they do have visual texture. That is, texture in design refers to the way a surface is perceived to feel. (And visual senses can be just as acute as physical ones!) There are many different ways to evoke texture in design, like using natural photography, geometric patterns or even simple backgrounds.

The definition of “spacing”/”target offset” is atypical for web development: “measures the distance between targets, measured from the farthest point of one target to the nearest point of the adjacent target”. In particular, very few web layout considerations are from the “farthest point” to the “nearest point”, potentially making this difficult to both understand and test. Instead, consider using more standard relationships like padding and margin (e.g. “if the distance between each target such as margin or padding, combined with the height of each target, meets or exceeds 24 pixels”).

The contrast design principle refers to the use of opposites or different elements to create an arresting effect, while juxtaposition is more specific and refers to placing contrasting elements side by side.

You can even apply this concept when choosing fonts. Try pairing a hard-edged typeface with a rounded script, like in this example:

We should be able to help with this after obtaining a few approvals. Would it be sufficient to share the study here and also attend an upcoming group meeting, similar to the Shadows and Outlines/Non Text Contrast approach from 2019?

Size is another classic way to create some contrast. By opposing large and small shapes, illustrations, text and more, you can add real drama to your designs. Size also ties in closely with visual hierarchy — generally, the size or scale of elements in a composition demonstrates their relative importance.Fun fact: the creators of the original Star Wars trilogy were masters at creating drama with contrast:

Target offset is the measure to determine if there is sufficient spacing. That section of the (understanding document)[https://w3c.github.io/wcag/understanding/target-size-minimum.html] has been updated.

Squares, triangles, circles, diamonds. There are many shapes you can mix and match to create some contrast. You can also consider contrasting geometric shapes with organic shapes that draw inspiration from nature. Organic shapes are irregular and unpredictable, while geometric shapes have precise edges and consistent curves.