Bug 91: Pure Color-Only Status Indicators (F13)

WCAG 1.4.1 (Use of Color) | Status shown by color alone, no text/icon alternatives.

Failure F13: System Status by Color Only

Server Status (color only):

?

?

?

Issues: What do green, yellow, red mean? Color-blind users can't tell the difference.

Failure F13: Network Status Signals

Network Quality Indicators (bars, no labels):

?

?

?

Issue: Color and bar count alone insufficient. Need text: "Good", "Fair", "Poor".

Failure F13: Priority Levels by Color

Task Priority (color only):

  • Data Migration Task
  • Email Template Update
  • Documentation Fix
  • Feature Request Review

Issue: What priority is blue? Color blind users can't differentiate tasks.

Better Approach (For Reference)

Always pair color with:

  • Text label ("Active", "Error", "Pending")
  • Icon (✓, ✕, ⚠, ◉)
  • Pattern (solid, hatched, stippled)
  • Shape (circle, square, triangle)

Example (Server Status):

  • ✓ Online
  • ⚠ Degraded
  • ✕ Offline
HAL Fixes: HAL detects color-only indicators and adds text labels, icons, or patterns. HAL ensures 3:1 contrast even with added visual markers. HAL includes aria-label for screen readers.