WAI-ARIA Screen reader compatibility

ARIA
Dec 12, 2023

Shows how different WAI-ARIA attributes behave in commonly used screen readers.

The results include two types of test:

  • Expected to work - these tests show support when accessibility features are used correctly
  • Expected to fail - these tests show what happens when accessibility features are used incorrectly (marked with Expected to Fail)

ARIA support by user agent

ARIA role and attribute support in different screen reader / browser combinations. Expected failures (marked with Expected to Fail) are not included in the reliability graph.

The solid area in the graph shows percentage of tests that pass in all tested interaction modes. The cross hatched area shows partial passes that only work in some interaction modes.

An example of a partial pass is when form labels are read when tabbing, but ignored in browse mode.

ComboVersionsReliabilityTest Changes
JAWS ChromeJAWS 2023.2311.34 with Chrome 120
1 better
JAWS EdgeJAWS 2023.2311.34 with Edge 120
1 better
JAWS FirefoxJAWS 2023.2311.34 with FF 115
10 better
JAWS IEJAWS 2019.1912.1 with IE11
15 better
NVDA ChromeNVDA 2023.3 with Chrome 120
NVDA EdgeNVDA 2023.3 with Edge 120
NVDA FirefoxNVDA 2023.3 with FF 115
13 better
NVDA IENVDA 2019.2 with IE11
5 better
VoiceOver MacVoiceOver macOS 13.6 with Safari 16.6
11 better
VoiceOver iOSVoiceOver iOS 16.6 with Safari iOS 16.6
8 better
WindowEyes IEWindowEyes 9.2 with IE11
10 better 1 worse
Dolphin IEDolphin SR 15.05 with IE11
SaToGo IESaToGo 3.4.96.0 with IE11
Average Including older versions

The average includes all versions, but some browser/AT combinations have tests for multiple versions (NVDA / JAWS / VoiceOver), while others only have tests for a single version (SaToGo and Dolphin).

ARIA support trend

This graph shows reliability over time for ARIA in NVDA, JAWS and Voiceover. Other screen readers don't have enough historical data yet to plot trends.

100%80%60%40%20%0%201467%201567%201668%201771%201876%201978%202083%202183%202284%202384%

ARIA roles

columnheader

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (30% average)0% 0% 0% 50% 75% 67% 0% 0%
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% Data table with role=columnheader headers but no thBadBadBadBetterBadBetterBadBad

grid

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (79% average)100% 100% 100% 100% 83% 100% 90% 0%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Data table with role=gridGoodGoodGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterBad

heading

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (94% average)100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% ARIA role=headingGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Nested ARIA headingsBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBetter

note

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Data table with role=noteBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad

presentation

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (84% average)88% 91% 89% 63% 91% 67% 94% 86%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and aria-label attributeGoodGoodGoodBadGoodBadGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and title attributeGoodGoodGoodBadGoodBadGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 26% - 50% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and negative tabindex and no accessible nameBadBadBadBadBadBadBadGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and no accessible nameGoodGoodGoodBadGoodBadGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Layout table with role=presentationGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodBetter
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Data table with role=presentationBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% input with aria-labelledby pointing to role=presentation elementGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

row

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (30% average)0% 0% 0% 50% 75% 67% 0% 0%
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% Data table with role=columnheader headers but no thBadBadBadBetterBadBetterBadBad

rowgroup

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (30% average)0% 0% 0% 50% 75% 67% 0% 0%
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% Data table with role=columnheader headers but no thBadBadBadBetterBadBetterBadBad

table

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (93% average)100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Data table with role=tableGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodBetter

ARIA attributes

aria-describedby

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (93% average)100% 100% 100% 100% 96% 100% 78% 100%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Click Here link with aria-describedby attributeGoodGoodGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% input type=text with aria-describedby attributeGoodGoodGoodGoodBetterGoodBadGood
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% img with aria-describedbyBadBadBadBadBadBadGoodBad

aria-label

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (77% average)84% 81% 84% 82% 73% 85% 84% 69%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and aria-label attributeGoodGoodGoodBadGoodBadGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Link text replaced by aria-label attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% applet with aria-label attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterGood
Should work. Fails in 26% - 50% area with aria-label attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterBad
Should work. Fails in 76% - 100% audio with aria-label attributeBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% button containing img with aria-labelGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% button with aria-label containing img with null altGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% embed with aria-label attributeBadBetterBadBadBadBadBetterBetter
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% img with aria-labelGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% input type=image with aria-label attributeGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% input type=text with aria-label attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 26% - 50% object with aria-label attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterBetter
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% video with aria-label attributeBadBetterBadBadBadBadBetterBetter
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% Link with aria-label containing img with no altGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterGood
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% button with aria-label containing img with no altGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% img with null alt and non-null aria-label attributesBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad

aria-labelledby

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (69% average)81% 80% 81% 81% 59% 83% 70% 66%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Link text replaced by aria-labelledby attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 26% - 50% applet with aria-labelledby attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterGood
Should work. Fails in 26% - 50% area with aria-labelledby attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBadBad
Should work. Fails in 76% - 100% audio with aria-labelledby attributeBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% button containing img with aria-labelledbyGoodGoodGoodGoodBadGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% embed with aria-labelledby attributeBadBetterBadBadBadBadBetterBetter
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% img with aria-labelledbyGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% input type=image with aria-labelledby attributeGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Works in 100% input type=text with aria-labelledby attributeGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% object with aria-labelledby attributeGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterBetter
Should work. Fails in 76% - 100% video with aria-labelledby attributeBadBetterBadBadBadBadBetterBetter
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% Link with aria-labelledby containing img with no altGoodBetterGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterGood
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% img with null alt and non-null aria-labelledby attributesBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% input with aria-labelledby pointing to role=presentation elementGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

aria-level

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (94% average)100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% ARIA role=headingGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Nested ARIA headingsBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBetter

role

Screen ReaderNVDAJAWSVoiceOver
BrowserEdgeFFCrEdgeFFCrMaciOS
Reliability when used correctly (76% average)82% 78% 80% 82% 91% 87% 74% 47%
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% ARIA role=headingGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 51% - 75% Data table with role=columnheader headers but no thBadBadBadBetterBadBetterBadBad
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Data table with role=gridGoodGoodGoodGoodBetterGoodBetterBad
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Data table with role=tableGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodBetter
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Interactive iframe with role=presentation and no accessible nameGoodGoodGoodBadGoodBadGoodGood
Should work. Fails in 1% - 25% Layout table with role=presentationGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodBetter
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Data table with role=noteBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Data table with role=presentationBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBad
Should fail. Fails in 76% - 100% Nested ARIA headingsBadBadBadBadBadBadBadBetter
Should fail. Fails in 1% - 25% input with aria-labelledby pointing to role=presentation elementGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Key

Tests expected to fail (due to authoring errors) are marked with Expected to Fail.

  • Works in all Works in 100% of tested screen readers
  • 75% to 99% Fails in 1% - 25% of tested screen readers
  • 50% to 74% Fails in 26% - 50% of tested screen readers
  • 25% to 49% Fails in 51% - 75% of tested screen readers
  • 0% to 24% Fails in 76% - 100% of tested screen readers
  • Stable Stable - works, or doesn't cause problems, in all versions of a specific combination of screen reader and browser
  • Better Better - works, or doesn't cause problems, in the most recent version of a specific combination of screen reader and browser (improvement)
  • Worse Worse - causes problems in the most recent version of a specific combination of screen reader and browser, but used to work in older versions (regression)
  • Broken Broken - causes problems in all versions of a specific combination of screen reader and browser

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