Build a useful investigation brief
Build the meaning table
List badge value, count source, unread and grouped records, icon label, navigation text, zero behavior, destination, and filter. Include one unrelated metric for comparison. Record what a person could infer before activation.
Trace activation
Open the indicator with one and several unread records, then with none. Compare destination heading, filters, list contents, status message, and return path. Record whether a count remains visible when its destination is filtered or empty.
Write the semantics brief
State first mismatch, affected surfaces, and competing explanations such as count definition, label, or destination. Recommend one bounded copy or count experiment with a pass condition. Do not rely on color or icon shape as the sole meaning.
What to carry forward
The investigation is complete when count, accessible name, zero state, and destination form a reproducible semantic contract, or the first unknown is explicit. Stop with one bounded experiment. Keep visual and text-equivalent communication aligned in the brief.
Technical background: W3C guidance.
Keep the decision with the work.
Use a Work Item in Aglet to record the problem, the evidence you have, and the next decision. Add an owner and priority, then keep updates in the discussion so the next person can follow the reasoning.
Create an account See the product workflow