A link with non-breaking space as label Screen reader compatibility
HTML
Nov 26, 2024
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 160 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:
<p>Preceding content</p>
<a href='javascript:void(0);'> </a>
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 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 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 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 14.6
VoiceOver iOS Causes problems 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 reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 131 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 128 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 128 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Edge 131 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Edge 131 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 115 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 115 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Edge 120 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Edge 120 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 102 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 102 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 91 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 91 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 78 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 78 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 68 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 68 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link, void zero |
![]() | FF 60 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link role read out. | Link |
![]() | FF 60 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link role read out. | Link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | FF 48 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | FF 48 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | FF 41 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | FF 29 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | FF 29 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero link |
![]() | Chrome 131 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | FF 128 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 128 | Tabbing | Link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 131 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Edge 131 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader, focus indicator hard to see. | Link |
![]() | FF 115 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 115 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 120 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Edge 120 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader, focus indicator hard to see. | Link |
![]() | FF 102 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 102 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader, focus indicator hard to see. | Link |
![]() | FF 91 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 91 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | FF 78 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 78 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Unlabeled link read by screen reader. | Link |
![]() | FF 68 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 68 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 60 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 52 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 52 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 48 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 48 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 41 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 29 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 29 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF 29 | Reading | Single character underline displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF 29 | Tabbing | Single character underline displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Single character underline displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Single character underline displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Underlined space visible in browser, but ignored in WindowEyes. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Text of previous element read as link label. | Link, preceding content |
![]() | Safari 17.6 | Reading | No link label read. | Link, comma comma |
![]() | Safari 17.6 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link, comma comma |
![]() | Safari 16.6 | Reading | No link label read. | Link, comma comma |
![]() | Safari 16.6 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link, comma comma |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 9.0.1 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 17.7 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari 16.6 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, and link with no label read in VoiceOver. | Link |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, but ignored in VoiceOver. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Underlined space visible in browser, but ignored in VoiceOver. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Link not visible in browser, and ignored in VoiceOver. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link label read. | Link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Underlined space visible in browser, but ignored in SaToGo. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link ignored when tabbing. |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTextBlank
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