1.4.4 Resize Text: Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.
SC 1.4.4 Resize Text is part of the accessibility principle perceivable because users with limited vision may not be able to see, or perceive, small text without the ability to increase size. The intent of this Success Criteria is to ensure text and text-based controls can be enlarged to at least 200 percent without the use of additional AT. When scaled, the enlarged text must be readable, information must not be cut off, and all functionality must still exist. It is acceptable that a scrollbar appears on the screen when zooming so that all information can be accessed.
This SC may be met if authors provide users a method within their content to resize text, such as a user control (this could be a zoom feature or an option to increase text size), or through browser options of text/font size modifications or built-in zoom features. For example, a user may choose to have their default text size set to 36-point font within their browser and operating system settings. Authors must ensure their content does not disrupt any of the user’s selected settings for resizing text or the content may not enlarge, could cut off text, cause text overlapping, or reduce content functionality, rendering the resized text ineffective. User agents include browser, software, and operating system have zoom features.
Below are some examples of specific user agents that may offer built-in text resizing:
- Browser: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox
- Software: Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat
- Operating System: Apple and Microsoft
Some older technology (such as Internet Explorer 6) may not provide the ability to resize text. Authors should be careful when relying solely on user agents to meet this Success Criteria. In instances where the user agent does not provide zoom support, the author must provide a means for the user to resize text. The author could create a user control that allows text-size scaling or zoom to at least 200 percent. If a user agent allows text-size adjustment in lieu of a zoom feature, the author must ensure their content is still fully usable when the text is resized to at least 200 percent.
Captions and images of text are not included in SC 1.4.4 Resize Text.
Impact of Nonconformance with SC 1.4.4 Resize Text
| Type of Disability | Description of Impact |
|---|---|
| 302.2 With Limited Vision | Users with limited vision may have widely different visual perception. Individuals with limited vision may or may not use assistive technologies. Therefore, in addition to textual and programmatic cues necessary for assistive technologies, ICT must also present content consistently and predictably. Users who view content with magnifiers may not pick up alerts, warnings, or other content if such content is presented outside of a consistent and predictable navigation pattern or if the content is not itself viewable at large magnification. Content that becomes distorted when magnified can also prevent some users with limited vision from being able to understand or interact with the content. |
Applicability of Success Criteria 1.4.4 Resize Text
| Technology | Applicability of SC 1.4.4 |
|---|---|
| Web | Applies directly; developers must be aware of how overflow and other style properties affect text presentation when a user independently resizes text using platform or OS features. Developers may provide layouts that adapt to the size of a user’s screen and text size preferences to preserve the readability and functionality of the content. Developers may also satisfy this requirement by directly providing options for increasing text size that also coincide with styles that preserve content readability and functionality. |
| Software | Applies directly; native software developers must either ensure that their software works with platform/OS features that allow enlarging text to 200% or must provide the functionality directly in the software. Either method must preserve the content and functionality. |
| Office documents Applies directly; Office applications provide the ability to zoom documents to 200% without any additional intervention on the part of content authors. Nevertheless, authors must be aware of how zooming the document affects the ability to navigate, understand, and operate document content. | |
| PDF documents | Applies directly; Most PDF viewers provide the ability to zoom documents to 200% without any additional intervention on the part of content authors. Nevertheless, authors must be aware of how zooming the document affects the ability to navigate, understand, and operate document content. |
| Mobile Native | Applies directly; mobile-native software developers must either ensure that their software works with platform/OS features that allow enlarging text to 200% or must provide the functionality directly in the software. Either method must preserve the content and functionality. |