PowerMapper
PowerMapper
Click Here link with aria-describedby attribute
Screen reader compatibility
ARIA HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 12 screen reader / browser combinations
Tests if the user hears extra text describing the "Click Here" link when moving between links. Without extra text the user hears a sequence like "Click Here. Click Here. Click Here" when tabbing, using the read next link command, or the list links command. In reading mode the text surrounding the link helps explain what the link does.
By design aria-describedby produces different results to aria-labelledby because the Accessible Name and Description: Computation and API Mappings specification maps these to different accessibility API properties.
WCAG Technique: ARIA1
Code used for this test:
<a href='4567.html' aria-describedby='a-aria-describedby-clickhere'>Click Here</a>
<span id='a-aria-describedby-clickhere'>this is an aria described by</span>
Reliability Trend
This graph shows reliability over time for this code in NVDA, JAWS and Voiceover. Other screen readers don't have enough historical data yet to plot trends.
Change History
Last updated: December 12, 2023
- NVDA with Chrome
Stable - OK from
NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
- NVDA with IE
Stable - OK from
NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF
Stable - OK from
NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2023.3
- JAWS with Chrome
Stable - OK from
JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
JAWS with IE
Better - caused problems in
JAWS 18.0.5038,
but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1- JAWS with FF
Better - caused problems in
JAWS 13.0.852,
but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
- VoiceOver macOS
Better - caused problems in
VoiceOver macOS 10.10,
but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
- VoiceOver iOS
Stable - OK from
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
- WindowEyes with IE
Causes problems in
WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE
Causes problems in
Dolphin SR 15.05
- SaToGo with IE
OK in
SaToGo 3.4.96.0
| Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Tab, click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Tab, click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Tab, click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-describedby isn't read when tabbing | Tab, click here, link |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is read when tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-describedby isn't read when tabbing | Click here, link |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here, link, this is an aria described by. | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Tabbing | click here link, this is an aria described by | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Tabbing | reads out aria-describedby twice | click here link, this is an aria described by, this is an aria described by |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Reading | link click here, use Jaws key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Tabbing | reads out aria-describedby twice | link click here, use Jaws key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, this is an aria described by, this is an aria described by |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | link click here | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Tabbing | reads out aria-describedby twice | click here link, this is an aria described by, this is an aria described by |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Reads out what's on screen in reading order | Link click here. This is an aria described by |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-describedby isn't read | Link click here |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | Reads out what's on screen in reading order | Link click here. This is an aria described by |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-describedby isn't read | Link click here |
| VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria described by. | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | aria-describedby is only read after long pause, unless it's next in reading order | Link, click here... The help tag is: this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is only read after long pause | Link, click here... The help tag is: this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | aria-describedby is only read after long pause, unless it's next in reading order | Link, click here... The help tag is: this is an aria described by. This is an aria described by |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | aria-describedby is only read after long pause | Link, click here... The help tag is: this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Click here, link, this is an aria described by | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | Click here, link. This is an aria described by | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-describedby isn't read | Click here, link |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria described by | |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here link, this is an aria described by |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTextAmbiguous
Test notes
All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.
Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:
- Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
- Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
- Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
- Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device
In the “What the user hears” column:
- Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
- Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
- Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
- (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear