Axe does not report an issue when text is the same colour as its background

[helenb]

Product

axe Extension

Product Version

4.70.0

Latest Version

• I have tested the issue with the latest version of the product

Issue Description

Expectation

Given this code snippet

<div style="background-color:blue; font-size:30px">
  <p style="color:blue;">test</p>
</div>

I would expect Axe to report an issue with the colour contrast, but it does not. Running pa11y on the command line with the same snippet and --standard WCAG2AA I see the following: Error: This element has insufficient contrast at this conformance level. Expected a contrast ratio of at least 3:1, but text in this element has a contrast ratio of 1:1. Recommendation: change text colour to #fff.

Actual

Fails to report an issue with the colour contrast.

How to Reproduce

Use the debug view for this codepen snippet and run the axe browser extension in chrome against it, with ': https://codepen.io/helenc/pen/MWLROZQ

Additional context

I have ticked 'latest version' above because I assume the browser extension automatically updates.

Screenshot of the results on the codepen above:

[straker]

Thanks for the issue. This is intentional as a 1:1 contrast ratio is effectively hidden text, so axe-core treats it as it does any other hidden text and ignores it. Axe reports it as needs review just in case you didn't mean to hide it this way.

[helenb]

Hi @straker, thanks for the quick response. Where can I find any items that need review? - I can't see the option in my screenshot above.

[schne324]

@helenb In the extension, "Needs review options" are available to pro users only at the moment. I do realize that this is causing problems for some users so we have plans to change that in the very near future. Soon, all you'll have to do is login (not upgrade to pro or anything) and these settings will become available (even non-pro users).

[helenb]

Thanks for your help @schne324 - that makes sense.