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Link with onclick but no href Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

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.

WCAG Failure: F42

Code used for this test:


		<a onclick='alert(&apos;hello&apos;);'>Hello</a>

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
  • Bad NVDA with FF Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 8.4 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Clickable, hello
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link hello
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Hello, on click
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Hello, clickable
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
Fail VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari 16.6TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchNo indication that text is a clickable link. Hello
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Normal, hello, has onclick
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Link can be activated in reading mode Link, hello
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Hello, link

SortSite rules: AccWcag2-F42-1

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