accessibility-guidelines

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Instructions should not rely on sensory characteristics

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Summary

If you give tips or instructions, do not assume that users can perceive colour, size, shape, sound or the location of elements on screen.

Instructions must not depend on sensory characteristics like shape, size, colour, or location.


Requirements

Common mistakes

Why?

This ensures that instructions can be understood by users who are unable to see or recognise information communicated using sensory characteristics.

Official wording in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics: Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, size, visual location, orientation, or sound. (Level A)

See the W3C’s detailed explanation of this guideline with techniques and examples.


Guidance for Design


More info

Sources

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This document is in beta. Help us by reporting issues via Github or email