PowerMapper
PowerMapper
Link text replaced by aria-labelledby attribute
Screen reader compatibility
ARIA HTML WCAG
Sep 11, 2022
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 9 screen reader / browser combinations
A much more reliable alternative is changing the text inside in the link element start and end tags.
Tests if the user hears the ARIA label as specified by HTML Accessibility API Mappings
WCAG Technique: ARIA7
Code used for this test:
<a href='4567.html' aria-labelledby='a-aria-labelledby-clickhere'>Click Here</a>
<span id='a-aria-labelledby-clickhere'>this is an aria labelled by</span>
Reliability Trend
This graph shows reliability over time for this code in NVDA, JAWS and Voiceover. Other screen readers don't have enough historical data yet to plot trends.
Change History
Last updated: September 11, 2022
- NVDA with Chrome
Stable - OK from
NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
- NVDA with IE
Causes problems in
NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF
Better - caused problems in
NVDA 2014.1,
but now OK in NVDA 2022.2- JAWS with Chrome
Stable - OK from
JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
- JAWS with IE
Better - caused problems in
JAWS 13.0.852,
but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF
Stable - OK from
JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
- VoiceOver macOS
Stable - OK from
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
- VoiceOver iOS
Stable - OK from
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
- WindowEyes with IE
Stable - OK from
WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE
OK in
Dolphin SR 15.05
- SaToGo with IE
Causes problems in
SaToGo 3.4.96.0
| Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF102 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF102 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF91 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF91 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF78 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF78 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF68 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF68 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF60 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF60 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF60 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF60 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF48 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF48 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF40 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF40 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF28 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF28 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF28 | Reading | link click here | |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF28 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | click here link |
| NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | click here, this is an aria labelled by link | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF102 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF102 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF91 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF91 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF78 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF78 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF68 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF68 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | This is an aria labelled by, link. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF60 | Reading | reads out what's on screen - reasonable behavior | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF60 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link. |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF52 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF52 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link. |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF48 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF48 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | This is an aria labelled by, link. |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF40 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF40 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF29 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF29 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF29 | Reading | link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF29 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF28 | Reading | link click here | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF28 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | link click here | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | click here link |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | reads out what's on screen - reasonable behavior | Link click here |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
| VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | This is an aria labelled by, click here, link | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | link click here | |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | click here link |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTextAmbiguous
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