input type=text
with aria-describedby
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
WCAG Technique: ARIA1
Code used for this test:
<label for='fname'>First name</label>
<input name='' type='text' id='fname' aria-describedby='int2'>
<span id='int2'>A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. </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 Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to 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 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 13.0.852, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Clickable, first name, edit has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | First name, edit, has auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF40 | Reading | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF40 | Tabbing | First name, edit, auto complete, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | First name, edit, auto complete. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, blank | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | First name. First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | First name. First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | First name. Blank, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | First name. First name. First name, edit, bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | First name. First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | First name. First name. First name, edit, bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | First name. Blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | First name. First name. Blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF52 | Reading | First name. Blank edit, first name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF52 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, use JAWS key plus ALT plus R to read descriptive text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | First name. Blank edit, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Edit, first name edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF40 | Reading | First name, blank edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF40 | Tabbing | Tab, first name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | First name, edit blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, type in text | |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. Blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | description read twice | First name, edit, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby |
![]() | FF28 | Reading | "edit" role sometimes not read out | First name. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby |
![]() | FF28 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | "edit" role sometimes not read out | First name. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. First name, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, edit. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, edit | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, first name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | First name, edit box |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | First name, edit text, you are currently on a text element |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | First name, edit text |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | First name, edit text, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | First name. First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | First name, edit text ... The help tag is: A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | First name, first name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby, double tap to edit | |
![]() | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | First name, text field, a bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name. First name, edit. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | ARIA-DESCRIBEDBY not read when tabbing | Forms mode, first name, blank line, edit. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | First name, editable text. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | First name, editable text, blank. A bit of instructions for this field linked with aria describedby |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlControlLabelMissing
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