Data table with null summary
and no th
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 85 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:
<table summary=''>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Morning</strong></td>
<td><strong>Afternoon</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Free</td>
<td>Busy</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Change History
Last updated: December 12, 2023
- NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
- NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2012.3 to 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 Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
- VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
- WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
- SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 41 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 31 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2012.3 | FF 32 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers read when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers read when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers read when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers read when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers read when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 41 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 31 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 31 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 keyed. | Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, free). Busy (column two, row two, busy). |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Table | Defaults to reading top row TD cells as headers if no TH in same column. | Table, two rows, two columns. Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy. |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Table | Defaults to reading top row TD cells as headers if no TH in same column. | Table six start, two rows, two columns (table six, one R one C, morning). Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, Afternoon. Free, Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, Afternoon. Free, Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, Afternoon. Free, Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, Afternoon. Free, Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Reading | Announced as table, but no row/column positions or headers read. | Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Table end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Reading | Announced as table, but no row/column positions or headers read. | Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Table end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Morning, afternoon. Free, busy. |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. | Normal, morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. |
SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | Entering table, morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Leaving table. |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlTableNoHeaders AccWcag1-5.5.1
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