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fieldset containing links Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 27 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: H91

Code used for this test:


		<fieldset>
			<legend>Legend for enclosed links</legend>
			<a href='/'>Home</a>
			<a href='/about'>About</a>
			<a href='/contact'>Contact</a>
		</fieldset>

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.

100%80%60%40%20%0%201573%201673%201773%201880%201980%202093%202193%202293%

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2017.3, 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
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.10, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems in VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems in 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
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Grouping, legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links, link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, grouping, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links, link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF60 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links, link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF48 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links, link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF40 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF40 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links, link home, link about, link contact.
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Legend not read when tabbing forward, but is read when shift-tabbing backwards. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF28 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF28 Tabbing Nice way of grouping related links. Legend for enclosed links, grouping. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Nice way of grouping related links. Legend for enclosed links, grouping. Home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links group, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home link. About link. Contact link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, legend for enclosed links, home link. Tab, about link. Tab, contact link.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Tabbing Tab, legend for enclosed links, home link. Tab, about link. Tab, contact link.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Group start, legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact. Group end.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Tab, home, link. Tab, about, link. Tab, contact, link.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Tabbing Tab, legend for enclosed links, home link. Tab, about link. Tab, contact link.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Tab, home, link. Tab, about, link. Tab, contact, link.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF40 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF40 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF29 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF29 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF29 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF29 Tabbing Legend for enclosed links, home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Link home. Link about. Link contact.
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Legend not read Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link, legend for enclosed links, home. Link, legend for enclosed links, about. Link, legend for enclosed links, contact.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact. End of, legend for enclosed links, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links, legend for enclosed links, group. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact. End of, legend for enclosed links, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links, legend for enclosed links, group. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact. End of, legend for enclosed links, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links, legend for enclosed links, group. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact. End of, legend for enclosed links, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links, legend for enclosed links, group. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact. End of, legend for enclosed links, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links, legend for enclosed links, group. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group, with 2 items. 2 items in legend for enclosed links, group, with 2 items, 4 items, legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link home, legend for enclosed links. Link about, legend for enclosed links. Link contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Legend for enclosed links, with 2 items, group. 2 items interact with legend for enclosed links, with 2 items, group 4 items, legend for enclosed links. Link, home. Link, about. Link, contact.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Link home, legend for enclosed links. Link about. Link contact.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Legend for enclosed links, group. Interact with legend for enclosed links, group, 3 items, link, home. Link, about. Link, contact.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Legend not read Link home. Link about. Link contact.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Legend read out for every link. Link, home, legend for enclosed links. Link, about, legend for enclosed links. Link, contact, legend for enclosed links.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Legend read out for every link. Link, home, legend for enclosed links. Link, about, legend for enclosed links. Link, contact, legend for enclosed links.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Legend for enclosed links, form start. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link end, legend for enclosed links, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Legend for enclosed links, form start. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link end, legend for enclosed links, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Legend for enclosed links, form start. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link end, legend for enclosed links, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Legend for enclosed links, form start. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link end, legend for enclosed links, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Legend for enclosed links, form start. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link. End, legend for enclosed links. End form.
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Legend for enclosed links. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Legend for enclosed links. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchLegend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch Legend for enclosed links. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Legend for enclosed links. Link Home. Link About. Link Contact.
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Legend not read Home, link. About, link. Contact, link.

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