Day 20: Indicating meaning with color

Because a significant number of users are colorblind, it's important that color shouldn't be the only way to indicate meaning.

It's common to use red and green to indicate a good or bad status; it's easy for many people to get a quick feel of a dashboard, for example, by using those colors.  To make it accessible, we just need to add additional patterns or icons to clarify the status for color-blind users.

Instead of red and green circles, there are additional visual cues in this example:

  • The red is shaped like a stop sign, and has an X in the center
  • The green has a check mark

Screenshot illustrating color icons with additional shapes, a red stop sign with an X and a green circle with a check mark

Remember, it's OK to use color to indicate meaning as long as the color isn't the only indicator.

#100DaysOfA11y

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