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A link with empty label Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 109 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

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems in NVDA 2024.4
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
  • Bad NVDA with FF Causes problems in NVDA 2024.4
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.13, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 14.6
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 8.4, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 17.7
  • Worse WindowEyes with IE Worse - was OK in WindowEyes 8.4, but now causes problems in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Meaningless link name read. Link, void zero
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Meaningless link name read. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. Blank
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. Blank
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. Blank
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. Blank
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. Blank
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Void zero, link
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Tabbing Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. Blank
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Link not displayed, but link URL read out. Link void zero
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Reading Unlabeled link read by screen reader. Link
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Tabbing Unlabeled link read by screen reader. Link
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Reading Unlabeled link read by screen reader. Link
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Tabbing Unlabeled link read by screen reader. Link
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 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
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 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
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 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
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Void left paren zero right paren, link
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. Link, void left paren zero right paren
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Not visible in browser, and ignored in WindowEyes.
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Text of previous element read as link label. Link, preceding content
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading No link displayed, "link" read out. Link
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading No link displayed, "link" read out. Link
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Link not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari 16.6TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchLink not displayed, and not read.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchText of previous element read out as link label. Preceding content, link
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchLink not visible in browser, and ignored in VoiceOver.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Link not displayed, and not read.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 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