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Link with aria-label containing img with no alt Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML WCAG
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 13 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.

For best compatibility with lazy load polyfills and other scripts which hide offscreen images add `aria-label` on the link with `alt=""` on the `img` inside the link. That means offscreen links have accessible names even if the image is hidden, because `alt` on hidden images is ignored by the ARIA Accessible Name Computation.

WCAG Failure: ARIA8

Code used for this test:


		<a href='4567.html' aria-label='this is an aria label'><img src='1234.png'></a>

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2012.1, but now OK in NVDA 2022.2
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2018.1811.2, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.9, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2015.2FF40 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2015.2FF40 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2014.1FF28 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2014.1FF28 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF28 Reading nothing read, and no indication of link Blank
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF28 Tabbing Skipped by tabbing - unreachable with tab key
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Image filename read instead of aria-label Link graphic twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link graphic
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria label, link
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Image filename read instead of aria-label Link graphic twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria label, link graphic
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF40 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF40 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF29 Reading ignores aria-label and reads out img filename Link graphic twelve thirty four
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF29 Tabbing ignores aria-label and reads out img filename Twelve thirty four link graphic
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading ignores aria-label and reads out img filename Link Graphic test slash twelve thirty four
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing ignores aria-label and reads out img filename Test slash twelve thirty four, link graphic
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria label
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Link, this is an aria label
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading reads out path of link Link test slash forty five sixty seven dot html
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Link, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Link image, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria label
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Reads out filename of image Link image one two three four PNG, this is an aria label
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Reads out filename of image Link image one two three four PNG, this is an aria label
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch This is an aria label, link image, logo other, test image
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch This is an aria label, link image
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading This is an aria label, link
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing This is an aria label, link
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading ignores label and just reads blank link link
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing ignores label and just reads blank link link

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