What is meant by "color contrast" in design?

Color contrast in design refers to the difference between colors that makes elements distinguishable from one another. This difference can be in terms of hue, saturation, brightness, or a combination of these attributes. High color contrast helps guide a viewer’s attention and enhances readability, ensuring that important information is easily seen. For example, using light text on a dark background or vice versa creates clarity and visual impact.

The other options touch on aspects of color or design but do not fully encapsulate the meaning of color contrast. The relationship between colors and shapes plays a role in overall design aesthetics but does not specifically address contrast. While complementary colors can create contrast, the term is not solely defined by this usage. Similarly, brightness alone does not cover the entire scope of color contrast; it involves the interplay of several color characteristics.