applet inside figure with figcaption element Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 5 screen reader / browser combinations

If nothing is displayed for the applet (because the browser doesn't support applets) then there is no non-text content needing an alternative.

Code used for this test:


		
		<figure>
			<applet code='appletComponentArch.DynamicTreeApplet' archive='https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/applet/examples/dist/applet_ComponentArch_DynamicTreeDemo/DynamicTreeDemo.jar' width='300' height='300'>
				<param name='permissions' value='sandbox'></param>
			</applet>
			<figcaption>Figure caption for applet</figcaption>
		</figure>
	

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%2015100%201683%201783%201888%201988%202088%2021100%2022100%2023100%

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 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Better JAWS with Chrome Better - caused problems in JAWS 2020.2008.24, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Good JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 18.0.5038, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.10 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 8.3 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Good WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK 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 Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Has details caption, figure caption for applet.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Has details caption, figure caption for applet.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Has details caption, figure caption for applet.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Has details caption, figure caption for applet.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Grouping caption, figure caption for applet. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Grouping caption, figure caption for applet. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading FIGCAPTION is read out. Embedded object. Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading FIGCAPTION is read out. Embedded object. Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading FIGCAPTION is read out. Embedded object. Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Clickable button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin. Figure caption for applet.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading FIGCAPTION is read out. Embedded object. Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 38 Reading Embedded object, clickable. Figure caption for applet
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading FIGCAPTION is read out. Embedded object. Figure caption for applet
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Has details, figure caption for applet.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Has details, figure caption for applet.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Entering details, figure caption for applet, has details.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Entering details, figure caption for applet, has details.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Nothing voiced - caption not read, and applet ignored
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 38 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 38 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 38 Reading Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Figure, figure caption for applet
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Newline. Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Figure caption for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.3Safari iOS 8.3Touch Figure caption for applet
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Normal, figure caption for applet
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Figure caption for applet

SortSite rules: AccHtmlAppletNoFallback

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