Question 1

What do AA and AAA mean?

Accepted Answer

They are the WCAG contrast thresholds. AA wants a ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA wants 7:1 and 4.5:1. AA is what most accessibility requirements and audits actually ask for.

Question 2

My brand colour fails AA. What now?

Accepted Answer

Keep it for large headings, logos and decorative use, where the threshold is lower, and darken or lighten it for body text. The tints and shades here are the quickest way to find a version that passes while staying recognisably the same colour.

Question 3

Why does HSL matter when HEX works everywhere?

Accepted Answer

Because HSL is the one you can reason about. Making a colour lighter or less saturated is an obvious change to one number in HSL and guesswork in HEX.

Question 4

Does the contrast checker cover colour blindness?

Accepted Answer

No. Contrast ratio is about luminance, and two colours can pass comfortably while being hard to tell apart for someone who is colour blind. Do not rely on colour alone to carry meaning.

Question 5

Are my colour values sent anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. It is all arithmetic in your browser, and it works offline once the page has loaded.

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