The Ladybug
Gentle. Minor. Still worth catching.
Ladybugs are harmless, even considered lucky. Low-severity bugs are similar: they don't block or frustrate, but fixing them shows you care about every detail.
Why The Ladybug?
In gardens around the world, spotting a ladybug is considered good luck. They're beautiful, harmless, and actually beneficial, eating pests that would otherwise damage plants. Nobody fears a ladybug. Everyone appreciates them.
Low-severity accessibility bugs are the ladybugs of digital products. They don't hurt anyone. Users can complete their tasks without noticing them. Finding them is almost lucky: it means your audit is thorough enough to catch even the smallest imperfections.
But here's the thing about ladybugs: a garden full of them is a healthy garden. Similarly, a product where only ladybugs remain is a well-maintained product. Fixing these small issues isn't about avoiding harm; it's about pursuing excellence.
Important for compliance: While low-severity bugs don't block users, they still need to be fixed for true WCAG compliance. Standards require addressing all accessibility issues, regardless of severity. These bugs deserve attention not just for polish, but for complete accessibility compliance.
Friend, Not Foe
- ✓No blockers: Users can complete all tasks without issue
- ✓No friction: Experience is smooth, just not perfect
- ✓Easy wins: Often simple to fix, great for building momentum
- ✓Quality signal: Fixing them shows attention to detail
Entomology: The Real Ladybug
- •Ladybugs are considered good luck in many cultures around the world.
- •They're actually beetles, not bugs. Their scientific family is Coccinellidae.
- •A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, protecting gardens.
- •Their bright colors warn predators they taste bad, a defense mechanism called aposematism.
- •Ladybugs can play dead when threatened, tucking their legs under their bodies.
- •They've been sent to space! NASA launched ladybugs in 1999 to study aphid control in zero gravity.
Polish Matters
Low-severity doesn't mean low-value. Here's why we still fix every ladybug we find.
For true compliance, these bugs also need to be fixed and given proper attention. WCAG standards require addressing all accessibility issues, not just the critical ones.
User Satisfaction
Small polish improvements compound into noticeable quality
Time on Task
Cleaner experiences let users focus on their goals
Support Tickets
Fewer confusion points means fewer questions
Tending the Details
Every checkbox filled is a step toward excellence.
In Accessibility Terms
Low-severity bugs are improvements, not fixes. Here's what they look like:
Decorative Images with Alt Text
Non-essential images have alt attributes but could be marked decorative (alt="") for cleaner screen reader experience.
Suboptimal Heading Hierarchy
Headings work but could be better organized. An H4 follows an H2 where H3 would be more semantic.
Slightly Low Contrast
Text passes minimum requirements but would be more comfortable with higher contrast ratios.
Long Alt Text
Image descriptions are thorough but could be more concise for faster screen reader navigation.
The Garden Metaphor
Accessibility is like tending a garden
Critical & High
The weeds and pests that destroy plants. Must be removed.
Medium
The gnats that annoy gardeners. Won't kill, but shouldn't stay.
Low
The ladybugs that live in healthy gardens. Welcome visitors.
A garden with only ladybugs is a thriving garden.
A product with only low-severity bugs is a polished product.
Every Bug Fixed Is a Win
We don't just chase the critical bugs and call it done. We believe in complete accessibility — from devastating Assassin Bugs to gentle Ladybugs. Because excellence isn't about doing the minimum. It's about doing everything.
"Details matter. It's worth waiting to get it right."Steve Jobs