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Nested ARIA headings Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 87 screen reader / browser combinations

For expected failures, the results show which AT combos the failures affect. Results are recorded from the user's viewpoint, so describe the user impact of authoring errors.

Code used for this test:


		<div role='heading' aria-level='1'>First level heading
			<div role='heading' aria-level='2'>Second level heading</div>
		</div>

		<p>Heading 2 content</p>

Change History

Last updated: November 26, 2024

  • NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
  • NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2024.4
  • JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 14.6
  • VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 14.7, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 17.7
  • WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2024.4FF 128HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2024.4Edge 131HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2023.3FF 115HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2023.3Edge 120HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2022.2FF 102HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2022.2Edge 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2021.2FF 91HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2021.2Edge 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2020.2FF 78HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2020.2Edge 92HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2019.2FF 68HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2019.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2018.4FF 60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2018.4IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2017.3FF 60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2017.3IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2016.2FF 48HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2016.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2015.2FF 41HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2015.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2014.1FF 29HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, Second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2014.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
NVDA 2012.1FF 29HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, Second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
NVDA 2012.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 18.0.5038IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 17.0.2619IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 16.0.4350IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 15.0.9023IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 14.0.9002IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 13.0.852FF 29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
JAWS 13.0.852IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
WindowEyes 9.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading 1, first level heading, heading 2, second level heading. Heading 1, heading 2, second level heading.
WindowEyes 8.4IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7TouchHeadings voiced correctly. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6TouchHeadings voiced correctly. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchHeadings voiced correctly. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Dolphin SR 15.05IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.

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