WCAG 2.0 · Level AAA · Perceivable
1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)
Manual verification
How to validate 1.4.6 by hand
Measure text contrast against the enhanced Level AAA thresholds in each relevant visual state.
Start with the extension result
Reopen the reported URL and reproduce the same state (for example, after expanding a menu or submitting a form). Use the result’s Highlight action when available, or its affected-element details and CSS selector, to find the reported content. Apply the checks below to that content and its context. If the element or state has changed, rescan and record that difference before deciding whether the finding still applies.
- Find normal text, large text, text on images, and text in interactive or error states.
- Measure rendered contrast; use 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for qualifying large text.
- Repeat for themes, hover/focus states, and backgrounds that vary across the text area.
Evidence to record
Record the text, state, colors, measured ratio, size category, and any claimed exception.
Scope and exceptions
This Level AAA threshold is stricter than 1.4.3. The same kinds of exceptions apply; ensure the applicable success criterion is the one being evaluated.
Record the review outcome
- Confirmed: the recorded evidence shows the requirement is not met in the tested page state, and no applicable exception explains it.
- Not reproduced: the reported issue is absent in the current state. Record the URL, state, and affected element you checked; this does not prove other pages or states conform.
- Needs more review: evidence is incomplete, the content requires human judgment, or an exception is uncertain. Record what remains to be checked instead of treating it as a pass.