diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index eae80c7..06a5f41 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -447,17 +447,17 @@ <h2 class="text-lg font-extrabold mb-6 flex items-center text-slate-900">
                     </div>
 
                     <!-- Acceptance Criteria -->
-                    <details class="mb-8 border-t border-slate-100 pt-6" open>
-                        <summary class="cursor-pointer text-[10px] font-extrabold text-slate-600 uppercase tracking-widest">Acceptance Criteria</summary>
-                        <p class="text-[11px] text-slate-500 mt-2 mb-3">Required failures produce FAIL; preferred warnings produce CONDITIONAL PASS.</p>
+                    <details class="mb-8 border-t border-slate-100 dark:border-slate-800 pt-6" open>
+                        <summary class="cursor-pointer text-[10px] font-extrabold text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-300 uppercase tracking-widest">Acceptance Criteria</summary>
+                        <p class="text-[11px] text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400 mt-2 mb-3">Required failures produce FAIL; preferred warnings produce CONDITIONAL PASS.</p>
                         <div class="space-y-2 text-xs">
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionCaiMode">CAI minimum 0.800</label><select id="criterionCaiMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionGcMode">Overall GC host range</label><select id="criterionGcMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionLocalGcMode">Local GC 30–70% / 60 bp</label><select id="criterionLocalGcMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionTypeIisMode">Type IIS (BsaI/BsmBI/SapI)</label><select id="criterionTypeIisMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="required">Required</option><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionRepeatsMode">Direct repeats</label><select id="criterionRepeatsMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionHomopolymerMode">Homopolymers ≤8 bp</label><select id="criterionHomopolymerMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
-                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionMotifsMode">Forbidden motifs</label><select id="criterionMotifsMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionCaiMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">CAI minimum 0.800</label><select id="criterionCaiMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionGcMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Overall GC host range</label><select id="criterionGcMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionLocalGcMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Local GC 30–70% / 60 bp</label><select id="criterionLocalGcMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionTypeIisMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Type IIS (BsaI/BsmBI/SapI)</label><select id="criterionTypeIisMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="required">Required</option><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionRepeatsMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Direct repeats</label><select id="criterionRepeatsMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionHomopolymerMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Homopolymers ≤8 bp</label><select id="criterionHomopolymerMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
+                            <div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] gap-2 items-center"><label for="criterionMotifsMode" class="text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-300">Forbidden motifs</label><select id="criterionMotifsMode" class="criterion-mode rounded-lg border border-slate-200 dark:border-slate-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 text-slate-700 dark:text-slate-200 px-2 py-1"><option value="preferred">Preferred</option><option value="required">Required</option><option value="ignored">Ignored</option></select></div>
                         </div>
                     </details>
 
diff --git a/web/js/app.js b/web/js/app.js
index fc7b855..ad074b1 100644
--- a/web/js/app.js
+++ b/web/js/app.js
@@ -942,6 +942,15 @@ function getPrimaryResult(res) {
     };
 }
 
+// Same wording as the profile-selection cards above (Optimization Settings),
+// reused here so the comparison table explains each candidate strategy
+// instead of showing a bare name.
+const CANDIDATE_DESCRIPTIONS = {
+    feasibility_best: 'Dynamic-programming candidate with maximum CAI inside the requested GC range when feasible.',
+    gc_target: 'Profile-engine comparison that prioritizes proximity to the active host GC band.',
+    high_cai: 'Profile-engine comparison that favors high codon adaptation index.'
+};
+
 function renderCandidateComparison(res) {
     if (!elements.candidateComparisonContainer || !elements.candidateComparisonBody) return;
     if (!Array.isArray(res.candidates) || res.candidates.length === 0) {
@@ -955,9 +964,13 @@ function renderCandidateComparison(res) {
         const isRecommended = candidate.id === recommendedId;
         const status = candidate.automated_decision || (candidate.validator_status === 'pass' ? 'PASS' : 'REVIEW');
         const aaStatus = candidate.validator_status === 'pass' ? '100%' : 'Review';
+        const description = CANDIDATE_DESCRIPTIONS[candidate.id];
+        const nameCell = description
+            ? `${escapeHtml(candidate.label || candidate.id)}<span class="tooltip-container"><span class="info-icon">i</span><span class="tooltip-text">${escapeHtml(description)}</span></span>`
+            : escapeHtml(candidate.label || candidate.id);
         return `
             <tr class="${isRecommended ? 'bg-emerald-50 dark:bg-emerald-900/20' : 'bg-white dark:bg-slate-900'}">
-                <td class="px-3 py-2 font-bold text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-100">${candidate.label || candidate.id}${isRecommended ? ' ★' : ''}</td>
+                <td class="px-3 py-2 font-bold text-slate-800 dark:text-slate-100">${nameCell}${isRecommended ? ' ★' : ''}</td>
                 <td class="px-3 py-2">${Number(candidate.cai || 0).toFixed(3)}</td>
                 <td class="px-3 py-2">${Number(candidate.gc_percent || 0).toFixed(1)}</td>
                 <td class="px-3 py-2">${Number(candidate.gc_window_min || 0).toFixed(1)}-${Number(candidate.gc_window_max || 0).toFixed(1)}</td>