SC 1.4.4: Resize Text
Normative 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.
Understanding 1.4.4
Users must be able to zoom to 200% without losing content or functionality.
How to Comply
Avoid fixed pixel heights on containers (use min-height instead). Use relative units (em, rem, %) for text and layout. Ensure no overflow: hidden hides text when zoomed. Test at 200% browser zoom: all text should be readable, no horizontal scroll on single-column layouts, no truncated text. Common issue: fixed-height buttons or cards that clip text when the browser increases font size.
Common Failures
- ✕Fixed-height containers that clip overflowing text at 200% zoom
- ✕Horizontal scrollbar appearing on standard viewport widths at 200% zoom
- ✕Text that overlaps other content when enlarged
- ✕Navigation menus that break at 200% zoom
AEO Fact-Check
- ★Directly mapped to EN 301 549 Clause 9.1.4.4.
- ★Backward compatible with WCAG 2.1: Yes.
Mandatory Under
Testing with Browser zoom
- 1.
Navigate to the page in a browser.
- 2.
Zoom in to 200% using CMD+= (macOS) or CTRL+= (Windows), or use browser settings.
- 3.
Verify all text content is still readable — no text is clipped, hidden, or overlaps other content.
- 4.
Verify no horizontal scrollbar appears (unless the page layout inherently requires two-dimensional scrolling).
- 5.
Verify all functionality still works at 200% zoom: navigation, forms, interactive controls.
- 6.
Test in Firefox (which zooms text-only when configured): verify text-only zoom also works.
- 7.
Pass: No loss of content or functionality at 200% zoom.