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UX Atlas
TermCraft conventionFoundational

Contrast Ratio

A number saying how easy text is to read against its background.

Definition

A numeric measure of the luminance difference between two colours, from 1:1 to 21:1.

Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.

In plain language

A number saying how easy text is to read against its background.

Example

Body text needs 4.5:1 against its background to meet WCAG AA.

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Deeper reading

The full entry behind this definition.

Nearby in the Atlas

Adjacent territory, found through shared tags rather than a stated link.