Images of Text (No Exception)

About

Version:	WCAG 2.0 and up
Number:	1.4.9
Level:	AAA
Applicability:	Images of text
Requirement:	Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.
Guidance:	Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.9 How to meet Success Criterion 1.4.9
Techniques:	C22: Using CSS to control visual presentation of text C30: Using CSS to replace text with images of text and providing user interface controls to switch G140: Separating information and structure from presentation to enable different presentations

Purpose

The purpose of this success criterion is to ensure that users can change the font of all text to better suit their reading needs.

Unlike success criterion 1.4.5, at this level no exception is made for the styling capabilities of the format. To use an image of text, the presentation of the text must be essential.

How to Meet

Authors must ensure that they do not use images to style the text of a publication.

Note that incidental text in the background of an image is not subject to this requirement (e.g., signs and building names in a cityscape).

Additional Information

The following knowledge base pages provide more information about how to address this success criterion for publishing content:

Images of Text