Why Accessibility Matters
Accessibility is not just about compliance; it's about providing a great experience for all users, including those with visual impairments. A design system that ignores contrast is fundamentally broken. Google and other search engines also prioritize accessible sites in their rankings.
Understanding Contrast Ratios
The WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. When building your Tailwind theme, you should always test your brand-500 (or primary action color) against both white and dark backgrounds.
Automating Accessibility Checks
Using tools like TailwindThemeMaker, you can visually verify these ratios. Our dashboard preview shows real text on real backgrounds, making it obvious when a color combination fails the "squint test."