PowerMapper
PowerMapper
applet with alt attribute
Screen reader compatibility
HTML
Sep 11, 2022
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 28 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.
If nothing is displayed for the applet (because the browser doesn't support applets) then there is no non-text content needing an alternative.
Code used for this test:
<applet code='appletComponentArch.DynamicTreeApplet' alt='Alt text for applet' archive='https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/applet/examples/dist/applet_ComponentArch_DynamicTreeDemo/DynamicTreeDemo.jar' width='300' height='300'>
<param name='permissions' value='sandbox'></param>
</applet>
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 from
NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF
Better - caused problems in
NVDA 2015.2,
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
Causes problems from
JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF
Better - caused problems in
JAWS 17.0.2619,
but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
- VoiceOver macOS
Better - caused problems in
VoiceOver macOS 10.14,
but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
- VoiceOver iOS
Stable - OK from
VoiceOver iOS 8.3 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 | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF102 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF91 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF78 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF68 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of what applet does. | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of what applet does. | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of what applet does. | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF48 | Reading | Alt text for applet. Clickable button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin. | |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of what applet does. | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF38 | Reading | ALT not read, no description of non-text content | Embedded object, clickable |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of what applet does. | Embedded object |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF102 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF91 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF78 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF68 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF52 | Reading | Alt text for applet | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | Newline |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | Newline |
| VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.3 | Safari iOS 8.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlAppletNoFallback
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