What is color contrast?
Color contrast is the difference between two colors. Online, color contrast refers to the difference between text color (or other important page elements) and the background color. Contrast and color might not seem critical at first glance, but for individuals who are colorblind or have other visual impairments, poor contrast can make important content nearly invisible. For example, what appears as highlighted text to some may look like plain gray text to others. When color alone is used to convey meaning, it can exclude users who perceive color differently. To ensure accessibility for all, it's important to use color thoughtfully and verify contrast using tools like contrast checkers or accessible color palettes.
Color Contrast Best Practices
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Use high contrast colors: Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background usually works well in many cases.
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Avoid relying on color alone: Don’t use color as the only way to convey meaning — combine with text labels or patterns.
- Be careful with overlays: If you overlay text on an image, make sure it has sufficient contrast to be easily readable. If the contrast is low, add a solid or semi-transparent background behind the text to improve visibility.
- Use a color contrast analyzer: Free tools like the TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer make it easy to test your color combinations for optimal accessibility.
- Use color palette generators: There are many free color palette generators online that you can use to create accessible color palettes for your content. These help take the guesswork out of trying to decide which colors work well together and are deemed accessible: Venngage Accessible Color Palette Generator.
Examples of Good and Poor Color Contrast
Good:
Poor:
Additional Resources
