Skip to main content
Tick PowerMapper
 Try it now

Nested ARIA headings Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 73 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:


		<div role='heading' aria-level='1'>First level heading
			<div role='heading' aria-level='2'>Second level heading</div>
		</div>

		<p>Heading 2 content</p>

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Bad NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 14.7, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF102HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF91HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF78HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF68HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF48HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF41HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF29HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, Second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF29HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, Second level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2, heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2012.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF52HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF48HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF41HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF29HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11HeadingSecond level heading ignored. First level heading, heading level 1.
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading 1, first level heading, heading 2, second level heading. Heading 1, heading 2, second level heading.
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2, second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3HeadingReader gets very confused over heading level. Heading level 1 2 items, first level heading, heading level 2 second level heading.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchHeadings voiced correctly. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchReader gets very confused over heading level. First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 1.
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.

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