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embed with aria-labelledby attribute Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 54 screen reader / browser combinations

Note: The ARIA Text Alternative Computation allows objects to be labelled by items hidden by CSS

WCAG Technique: ARIA10: Using aria-labelledby to provide a text alternative for non-text content

Code used for this test:


		<embed aria-labelledby='embed-aria-labelledby-id' type='video/mp4' src='small.mp4' width='100' height='100'></embed>
		<p id='embed-aria-labelledby-id' style='display:none'>This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text</p>

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%201517%201633%201717%201838%201938%202013%202125%202238%202338%

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2020.2, but now OK in NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 16.0.4350, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.14, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 14.7, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading No description of non-text content. Grouping unavailable, menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading No description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading No description of non-text content. Button, show more media controls. Video time scrubber 0:01 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:01.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video time scrubber 0:01 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:01.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading No description of non-text content. Button unavailable, play. Button unavailable, show more media controls.
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Button, play. Button, mute. Button, show more media controls. Video time scrubber 0:05 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:05.
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading No description of non-text content. Button, show more media controls. Video time scrubber midnight slash 24:05, slider video time scrubber midnight slash 24:05.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, frame. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading No description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading No description of non-text content. Button, show more media controls. Video time scrubber midnight slash 24:05, slider video time scrubber midnight slash 24:05.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading No description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame.
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading No description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading No description of non-text content. Iframe, button play. Button mute. Out of iframe.
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading No description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Embedded object, clickable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button. Up down slider, one. Mute button. Show more media controls, more options button. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Left right slider, elapsed time, colon zero 01. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button unavailable. Show more media controls, more options button unavailable. Video end.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Left right slider, elapsed time, colon zero 01. Video end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Group start, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button. Video end. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Only blanks voiced for embed - no indication it exists Blank. Blank.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Group start, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button. Video end. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Aria-labelledby not read - no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text frame. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end. This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text frame end.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists

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