Visual Descriptor

A description in instructions or content that relies on visual appearance to convey information, such as "cook until golden brown," "the mixture should be translucent," or "form into patties." Visual descriptors are a significant accessibility barrier for blind and visually impaired people because they assume the user can see the item being described. Accessible alternatives include texture descriptions (crispy, firm), sound descriptions (sizzling), smell descriptions (sweet, nutty), time ranges, and temperature measurements that provide equivalent information through non-visual senses.