What is the minimum required color contrast ratio according to WCAG?

The minimum required color contrast ratio according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is 4.5:1 for normal text. This guideline ensures that text is readable by individuals with visual impairments or color blindness, facilitating better accessibility for all users. The contrast ratio between foreground and background colors is crucial for maintaining text legibility, and the 4.5:1 ratio is a standard that aims to provide sufficient differentiation without requiring excessive contrast, which might be difficult for some users.

For larger text (defined as 18 point or 14 point bold), the minimum contrast ratio is lowered to 3:1, which recognizes that larger text is generally easier to read and does not require as high of a contrast ratio to be legible. Therefore, while multiple choices may suggest various contrast ratios, 4.5:1 is established as the baseline for standard text to ensure a minimum level of accessibility compliance.