A link with empty label Screen reader compatibility

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 98 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: December 12, 2023

• NVDA with Chrome Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
• NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
• NVDA with FF Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
• JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
• 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 2023.2311.34
• VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.13, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
• VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 8.4, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 16.6
• WindowEyes with IE Worse - was OK in WindowEyes 8.4, but now causes problems in WindowEyes 9.2
• Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05

Screen reader	Browser	Mode	Notes	What the user hears
NVDA 2023.3	Chrome 120	Reading	Meaningless link name read.	Link, void zero
NVDA 2023.3	Chrome 120	Tabbing	Meaningless link name read.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2023.3	FF 115	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2023.3	FF 115	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2023.3	Edge 120	Reading	Meaningless link name read.	Link, void zero
NVDA 2023.3	Edge 120	Tabbing	Meaningless link name read.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2022.2	Chrome 105	Reading	Meaningless link name read.	Link, void zero
NVDA 2022.2	Chrome 105	Tabbing	Meaningless link name read.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2022.2	FF 102	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2022.2	FF 102	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2022.2	Edge 105	Reading	Meaningless link name read.	Link, void zero
NVDA 2022.2	Edge 105	Tabbing	Meaningless link name read.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2021.2	Chrome 94	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2021.2	Chrome 94	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to.	Blank
NVDA 2021.2	FF 91	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2021.2	FF 91	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2021.2	Edge 94	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2021.2	Edge 94	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to.	Blank
NVDA 2020.2	Chrome 86	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2020.2	Chrome 86	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to.	Blank
NVDA 2020.2	FF 78	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2020.2	FF 78	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2020.2	Edge 92	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2020.2	Edge 92	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to.	Blank
NVDA 2019.2	Chrome 79	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2019.2	Chrome 79	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to.	Blank
NVDA 2019.2	FF 68	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2019.2	FF 68	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2019.2	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2019.2	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2018.4	Chrome 73	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2018.4	Chrome 73	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2018.4	FF 60	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2018.4	FF 60	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2018.4	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2018.4	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2017.3	FF 60	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2017.3	FF 60	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2017.3	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2017.3	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2016.2	FF 48	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2016.2	FF 48	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2016.2	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2016.2	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2015.2	FF 41	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2015.2	FF 41	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Void zero, link
NVDA 2014.1	FF 29	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
NVDA 2014.1	FF 29	Tabbing	Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label.	Blank
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, but link URL read out.	Link void zero
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
JAWS 2023.2311.34	Chrome 120	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2023.2311.34	Chrome 120	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2023.2311.34	FF 115	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2023.2311.34	FF 115	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2023.2311.34	Edge 120	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2023.2311.34	Edge 120	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Chrome 105	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Chrome 105	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2022.2207.25	FF 102	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2022.2207.25	FF 102	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Edge 105	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Edge 105	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Chrome 94	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Chrome 94	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2021.2107.12	FF 91	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2021.2107.12	FF 91	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Edge 94	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Edge 94	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Chrome 86	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Chrome 86	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2020.2008.24	FF 78	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2020.2008.24	FF 78	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Edge 92	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Edge 92	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2019.1912.1	Chrome 79	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2019.1912.1	Chrome 79	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2019.1912.1	FF 68	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2019.1912.1	FF 68	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2019.1912.1	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2019.1912.1	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2018.1811.2	Chrome 73	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2018.1811.2	Chrome 73	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2018.1811.2	FF 60	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2018.1811.2	FF 60	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 2018.1811.2	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 2018.1811.2	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
JAWS 18.0.5038	FF 52	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 18.0.5038	FF 52	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 18.0.5038	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 18.0.5038	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
JAWS 17.0.2619	FF 48	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 17.0.2619	FF 48	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 17.0.2619	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 17.0.2619	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF 41	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF 41	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF 29	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF 29	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF 29	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF 29	Tabbing	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Void left paren zero right paren, link
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Reading	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Tabbing	No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader.	Link, void left paren zero right paren
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Reading	Not visible in browser, and ignored in WindowEyes.
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Tabbing	Text of previous element read as link label.	Link, preceding content
VoiceOver macOS 13.6	Safari 16.6	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 13.6	Safari 16.6	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 12.5	Safari 15.6	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 12.5	Safari 15.6	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 11.5	Safari 15.0	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 11.5	Safari 15.0	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.15	Safari 14.1	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.15	Safari 14.1	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.14	Safari 13.0	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.14	Safari 13.0	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.13	Safari 12.1	Reading	No link displayed, "link" read out.	Link
VoiceOver macOS 10.13	Safari 12.1	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.12	Safari 10.1.2	Reading	No link displayed, "link" read out.	Link
VoiceOver macOS 10.12	Safari 10.1.2	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.11	Safari 9.1.2	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.11	Safari 9.1.2	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.10	Safari 9.0.1	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.10	Safari 9.0.1	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.9	Safari 7.0.3	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver macOS 10.9	Safari 7.0.3	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 16.6	Safari 16.6	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 15.6	Safari iOS 15.6	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 14.7	Safari iOS 14.7	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 13.3	Safari iOS 13.3	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 12.4	Safari iOS 12.4	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 11.4	Safari iOS 11.4	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 10.3	Safari iOS 10.3	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 9.1	Safari iOS 9.1	Touch	Link not displayed, and not read.
VoiceOver iOS 8.4	Safari iOS 8.4	Touch	Text of previous element read out as link label.	Preceding content, link
VoiceOver iOS 7.1	Safari iOS 7.1	Touch	Link not visible in browser, and ignored in VoiceOver.
Dolphin SR 15.05	IE11	Reading	Link not displayed, and not read.
Dolphin SR 15.05	IE11	Tabbing	Link not displayed, and not read.

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