Active role=tab without role=tabpanel Web Standard

Description

Every active role=tab element must have a corresponding role=tabpanel element.

Help

Add aria-controls to the tab referencing the tabpanel or use aria-labelledby on the tabpanel to reference the tab.

Applicable standards

• ARIA 5.4
• WCAG 2.0 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.1 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.2 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• Section 508 (2017) (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• EN-301-549 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• HTML

Note: Section 508 Refresh (2017) checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.0 level A and level AA checkpoints. EN 301 549 checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.1 level A and level AA checkpoints.

Change history

• 2026.60 Apr 2026 Added mapping to ARIA 1.3.
• 6.59 Dec 2025 Added to W3 validator for ARIA 1.3.

This page describes a web site issue detected in HTML documents by SortSite Desktop and OnDemand Suite.

Rule ID: W3cAriaTabWithoutTabpanel