Link text replaced by aria-labelledby
attribute
Screen reader compatibility
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | FF40 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF40 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | Click here, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Click here, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | link click here | |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | click here link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | click here, this is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | This is an aria labelled by, link. |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | reads out what's on screen - reasonable behavior | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link. |
![]() | FF52 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF52 | Tabbing | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link. |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | still displayed as 'Click Here' in List Links window. | This is an aria labelled by, link. |
![]() | FF40 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF40 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, click here. This is an aria labelled by. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link. | |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | link click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | link click here | |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | link click here | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | aria-labelledby ignored | click here link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | reads out what's on screen - reasonable behavior | Link click here |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Link, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | Link, this is an aria labelled | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Link, click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | Link, click here, this is an aria labelled by | |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | This is an aria labelled by link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | This is an aria labelled by, click here, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | This is an aria labelled by, link | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | link click here | |
![]() | 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