---
name: Color Theory
description: Accessible, intentional palettes.
---
# Color Theory

Choose color for meaning and legibility, not decoration. Most interface color jobs are: surface (background), content (text), accent (action), and status (success/warn/error). Define each deliberately.

## Practical rules
- **Contrast is non-negotiable.** Body text needs ≥ 4.5:1 against its background (WCAG AA); large text ≥ 3:1. Check every text/background pair, not just the obvious ones.
- **Never encode meaning with color alone.** Colorblind users (and there are many) lose the signal. Pair color with shape, icon, or text.
- **Limit the palette.** One accent, a neutral ramp (5-7 steps from white to near-black), and a small status set. More colors mean more inconsistency and more decisions per screen.
- **Test on real content.** A palette that looks great on an empty artboard often fails on dense data. Stress-test with a worst-case busy screen.