input type=text 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 10 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: ARIA1

Code used for this test:


		<label for='fname'>First name</label>
		<input name='' type='text' id='fname' aria-describedby='int2'>
		<span id='int2'>A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. </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.

100%80%60%40%20%0%2014100%2015100%2016100%2017100%201893%2019100%202093%202193%202293%202393%

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 13.0.852, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Reading First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Tabbing First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Reading First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Tabbing First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Reading First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Tabbing First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading First name. Blank, edit, first name edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading First name. First name. Blank, edit, first name edit. Blank, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading First name. Blank, edit, first name edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading First name. First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading First name. First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading First name. First name. First name, edit, bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading First name. First name. First name, edit, bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading First name. Blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading First name. First name. Blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading First name. Blank edit, first name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading First name. Blank edit, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading First name. Edit, first name edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Reading First name, blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Tabbing Tab, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading First name, edit blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading First name. Blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading First name. Blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing description read twice First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Reading "edit" role sometimes not read out First name. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading "edit" role sometimes not read out First name. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading First name. First name, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, edit.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing First name, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, edit
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading First name, first name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit box
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing First name, edit text
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading First name. First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch First name, first name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading First name. First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing Forms mode, first name, blank line, edit.
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading First name, editable text. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing First name, editable text, blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby

SortSite rules: AccHtmlControlLabelMissing

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