applet
with aria-label
attribute
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 19 screen reader / browser combinations
If nothing is displayed for the applet (because the browser doesn't support applets) then there is no non-text content needing an alternative.
WCAG Technique: ARIA6
Code used for this test:
<applet code='appletComponentArch.DynamicTreeApplet' aria-label='ARIA label 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>
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 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2016.2, 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 Better - caused problems in JAWS 16.0.4350, but now OK in 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | ARIA label for applet |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Embedded object, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | ARIA label for applet |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Embedded object, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Embedded object, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Clickable button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Embedded object, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Embedded object, clickable, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Embedded object, ARIA label for applet | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | FF52 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Aria label for applet | |
![]() | FF41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | Aria label for applet, empty group |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | Newline |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Safari displays box saying "unsupported plugin". Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | Newline |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.3 | Touch | iOS does not support applets, and does not render them on screen | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists | |
![]() | 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