fieldset with blank legend Screen reader compatibility

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 135 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:

		<fieldset>
			<legend> </legend>
			<label><input name='radio_blank_legend' type='radio' checked='checked'>Yes</label>
			<label><input name='radio_blank_legend' type='radio'>No</label>
		</fieldset>
	

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

• NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
• NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
• NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2022.2
• JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
• JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
• JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
• VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
• VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
• WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
• Dolphin with IE Causes problems 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	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2022.2	Chrome 105	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2022.2	FF102	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2022.2	FF102	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Article, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2022.2	Edge 105	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2022.2	Edge 105	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2021.2	Chrome 94	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2021.2	Chrome 94	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2021.2	FF91	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2021.2	FF91	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Article, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2021.2	Edge 94	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2021.2	Edge 94	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2020.2	Chrome 86	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2020.2	Chrome 86	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Article, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2020.2	FF78	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2020.2	FF78	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Article, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2020.2	Edge 92	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2020.2	Edge 92	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Article, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2019.2	Chrome 79	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2019.2	Chrome 79	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2019.2	FF68	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2019.2	FF68	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2019.2	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2019.2	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Document, yes, radio button, checked.
NVDA 2018.4	Chrome 73	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2018.4	Chrome 73	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2018.4	FF60	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2018.4	FF60	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2018.4	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2018.4	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked.
NVDA 2017.3	FF60	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2017.3	FF60	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2017.3	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2017.3	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked.
NVDA 2016.2	FF48	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Clickable radio button, checked, yes. Clickable radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2016.2	FF48	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2016.2	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2016.2	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked.
NVDA 2015.2	FF40	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2015.2	FF40	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked.
NVDA 2014.1	FF28	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2014.1	FF28	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Chrome 105	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Chrome 105	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	FF102	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	FF102	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for and button read twice.	Yes radio button, checked, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Edge 105	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2022.2207.25	Edge 105	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Chrome 94	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Chrome 94	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	FF91	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	FF91	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for and button read twice.	Yes radio button, checked, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Edge 94	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2021.2107.12	Edge 94	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Chrome 86	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Chrome 86	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	FF78	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	FF78	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for and button read twice.	Yes radio button, checked, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Edge 92	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2020.2008.24	Edge 92	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	Chrome 79	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	Chrome 79	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	FF68	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	FF68	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Group start. Yes, radio button, checked. No, radio button, not checked. Group end.
JAWS 2019.1912.1	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	Chrome 73	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	Chrome 73	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Tab, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	FF60	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two. No, radio button, not checked, two of two.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	FF60	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Tab, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Group start. Yes, radio button, checked. No, radio button, not checked. Group end.
JAWS 2018.1811.2	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Tab, yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 18.0.5038	FF52	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, one of two. Radio button, not checked, no, two of two.
JAWS 18.0.5038	FF52	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Tab, yes radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 18.0.5038	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
JAWS 18.0.5038	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Tab, yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 17.0.2619	FF48	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, one of two. Radio button, not checked, no, two of two.
JAWS 17.0.2619	FF48	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 17.0.2619	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
JAWS 17.0.2619	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF40	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, one of two. Radio button, not checked, no, two of two.
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF40	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Yes. Radio button, not checked, no. No.
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF29	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no, two of two.
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF29	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Yes. Radio button, not checked, no. No.
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no. Two of two.
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. One of two.
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Yes. Radio button, not checked, no. No.
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
JAWS 13.0.852	FF29	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes, one of two. Radio button, not checked, no, two of two.
JAWS 13.0.852	FF29	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked, one of two.
JAWS 13.0.852	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, not checked, no.
JAWS 13.0.852	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button checked.
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, checked. Yes. No, radio button, unchecked. No.
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, radio button, checked.
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Radio button, checked, yes. Radio button, unchecked, no.
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, checked, radio button.
VoiceOver macOS 12.5	Safari 15.6	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 12.5	Safari 15.6	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 11.5	Safari 15.0	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 11.5	Safari 15.0	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.15	Safari 14.1	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.15	Safari 14.1	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.14	Safari 13.0	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.14	Safari 13.0	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.13	Safari 12.1	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.13	Safari 12.1	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.12	Safari 10.1.2	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.12	Safari 10.1.2	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.11	Safari 9.1.2	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.11	Safari 9.1.2	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two, yes yes, no no.
VoiceOver macOS 10.10	Safari 8.0.6	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. Yes. No, radio button, two of two. No.
VoiceOver macOS 10.10	Safari 8.0.6	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.9	Safari 7.0.3	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two. No, radio button, two of two.
VoiceOver macOS 10.9	Safari 7.0.3	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, selected radio button, one of two.
VoiceOver iOS 15.6	Safari iOS 15.6	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 14.7	Safari iOS 14.7	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 13.3	Safari iOS 13.3	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 12.4	Safari iOS 12.4	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 11.4	Safari iOS 11.4	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 10.3	Safari iOS 10.3	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button, ticked, form start, one of two. No, radio button, unticked, two of two.
VoiceOver iOS 9.1	Safari iOS 9.1	Touch	Radio buttons not treated as part of same group	Yes, radio button ticked, one of one. No, radio button unticked, one of one.
VoiceOver iOS 8.4	Safari iOS 8.4	Touch	Radio buttons not treated as part of same group	Yes, radio button ticked, one of one. No, radio button unticked, one of one.
VoiceOver iOS 7.1	Safari iOS 7.1	Touch	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for.	Yes, radio button ticked, one of two. No, radio button unticked, two of two.
Dolphin SR 15.05	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when reading.	Checked radio, yes. Yes. Unchecked radio, no. No.
Dolphin SR 15.05	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Checked radio, yes. Unchecked radio, no.
SaToGo 3.4.96.0	IE11	Reading	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when reading.	Radio button selected, Yes. Radio button unselected, No
SaToGo 3.4.96.0	IE11	Tabbing	Nothing to indicate what Yes / No is a choice for when tabbing.	Yes, radio button selected. No, radio button unselected

SortSite rules: AccHtmlFieldsetNoLegend

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