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# 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics

- Level: A
- Guideline: 1.3 Adaptable
- Principle: 1 Perceivable

## What it is

Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound.

## How to test

- Check: Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, color, size, visual location, orientation, or sound.
- Use the sufficient techniques below as acceptable methods when applicable.
- Confirm none of the common failures apply.

## Sufficient techniques (W3C)

- G96: Providing textual identification of items that otherwise rely only on sensory information to be understood

## Common failures (W3C)

- F14: Failure of Success Criterion 1.3.3 due to identifying content only by its shape or location
- F26: Failure of Success Criterion 1.3.3 due to using a graphical symbol alone to convey information

## Notes

- Note: For requirements related to color, refer to Guideline 1.4.

## Resources

- WCAG 2.2 SC: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#sensory-characteristics
- Understanding: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/sensory-characteristics.html
- Quick reference: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/quickref/?versions=2.2#sensory-characteristics

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