Data table with summary
but no th
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 83 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='Data 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 | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no summary or column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no summary or column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 41 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 31 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2012.3 | FF 32 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table with two rows, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two column one, free. Column two, busy. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. 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 | Edge 120 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | FF 102 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. 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 | Edge 105 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. 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 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 are read out when using table navigation commands. | Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. 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 are read out when using table navigation commands. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. Data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | Summary not read. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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. | Summary colon, data table summary. 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 | Table, data table summary, 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 eight, data table summary, two rows, two columns (table eight, data table summary, one R one C, morning). Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, free, column one of two. Busy, column two of two. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon. Row two of two, free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon. Row two of two, free. Busy. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Table two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Column two of two, afternoon. Row two of two, column one of two, free. Column two of two, busy. |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Free, row 2 column 1. Busy, row 2 column 2. Table end, end, end. |
VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows, 2 columns. Afternoon, column 2. Free, row 2, column 1. Busy, column 2, table end. |
VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy, table end. |
VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy, table end. |
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Reading | Recognized as data table, but no column headers are read out. | Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Table end. |
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