1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics
Level A · added in WCAG 2.0
Instructions must not depend only on how something looks, where it sits or how it sounds. "Press the round button on the right" fails unless the instruction also names the button.
Who it helps
Blind people can't see shape or position, and layouts shift on small screens and at high zoom. Deaf people can't hear a sound cue, and people with cognitive disabilities benefit from clear, named references.
How to meet it
- Refer to controls by their visible label, such as "Select Continue", and add location only as an extra hint.
- If you mention a shape or icon, also give the text name, such as "the Search button (magnifying glass)".
- Pair any sound cue, like a beep, with a visible text message.
- Remember that position changes with screen size, so "on the right" may be wrong on a phone.
- Review help text, error messages, onboarding tips and quiz instructions, where these phrases often hide.
- Instructions that rely on color alone are covered by 1.4.1 Use of Color.
Examples
<p>When you're ready, press the round button on the right.</p>
<button class="round-btn" aria-label="Place order">→</button><p>Start the test when you hear the tone.</p>
<audio id="start-tone" src="/sounds/start.mp3"></audio><p>When you're ready, select <strong>Place order</strong>.</p>
<button class="round-btn">Place order</button><p>Start the test when you hear the tone or see "Go" below.</p>
<audio id="start-tone" src="/sounds/start.mp3"></audio>
<p id="test-status" role="status"></p>Can a scanner detect this?
No
No axe-core rule tests this criterion, because a script can't understand what instructions mean. Read every instruction on the page and ask whether someone who can't see the layout, or hear the audio, could still follow it.
No automated rule tests this criterion. Check it by hand.
Common mistakes
- Writing "click the icon in the top right corner" without naming the icon.
- Saying "see the box below" when the box sits beside the text on wide screens.
- Relying on a chime to say a timer has ended, with no visible message.
- Telling people to "use the large button" when several controls look alike.
Related criteria
Check your own page
See which automated WCAG checks your page fails, with the failing elements and how to fix them.
Reviewed November 2, 2026