embed with alt attribute Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 75 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.

alt is not a valid HTML attribute on embed elements.

Code used for this test:


		<embed alt='Alt text for embed' type='video/mp4' src='small.mp4' width='100' height='100'></embed>
	

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 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
  • NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2015.2 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 in JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.14, but now OK in 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 131 Reading No description of non-text content. Grouping unavailable, menu button, submenu, show more media controls. Video time scrubber slider total time, 0:05, elapsed time, 0:01.
NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame button play. Button mute. Blank. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Grouping unavailable, menu button, submenu, show more media controls. Out of grouping blank.
NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading No description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls. Video time scrubber 0:01 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:01.
NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading No description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls. Video time scrubber 0:01 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:01.
NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Menu button, submenu, show more media controls.
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.
NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video time scrubber 0:01 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:01
NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading No description of non-text content. Button unavailable, play. Button unavailable, show more media controls.
NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video time scrubber 0:05 / 0:05 slider elapsed time, 0:05
NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading No description of non-text content. Button, show more media controls.
NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
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.
NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading No description of non-text content. Frame, button play. Button mute. Out of frame, blank.
NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading No description of non-text content. Iframe, button play. Button mute. Out of iframe.
NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
NVDA 2015.2FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists Blank
NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Embedded object, unnamed_view_0
JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Show more media controls, more options button menu. Video end.
JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading ALT 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.
JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Play button. Up down slider, one. Mute button. Show more media controls, more options button. Left right slider, elapsed time colon zero 01. Video end.
JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button unavailable. Show more media controls, more options button unavailable. Video end.
JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading No description of non-text content Video start. Left right slider, elapsed time colon zero 01. Video end.
JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button. Video end.
JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Only blanks voiced for embed - no indication it exists Blank. Blank.
JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - video controls visible - no indication it exists
JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Show more media controls, more options button. Video end.
JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading ALT not read, no description of non-text content. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end.
JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Alt text for embed frame. Video start. Play button. Mute button. Video end. Alt text for embed frame end.
JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 15.0.9023FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 14.0.9002FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 13.0.852FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading ALT ignored, no description of non-text content Unnamed 2 button. Slider. Play button. Stop button. Previous button. Rewind button. Fast forward button. Next button. Mute button. Slider. Show. Title. Author. Copyright. Quality icon button. Stopped, read-only, edit box metadata.
VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content
VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no description of non-text content Newline
VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7Touch Alt text for embed
VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch Alt text for embed
VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch Alt text for embed
VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchNo description of non-text content Play, button
VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
VoiceOver iOS 8.3Safari iOS 8.3TouchNo description of non-text content Start playback, button
Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists
SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for embed - no indication it exists

SortSite rules: AccWcag1-1.1.4

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