applet
inside figure
with figcaption
element
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 5 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.
Code used for this test:
<figure>
<applet code='appletComponentArch.DynamicTreeApplet' 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>
<figcaption>Figure caption for applet</figcaption>
</figure>
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 Stable - OK from NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2022.2
JAWS with Chrome Better - caused problems in JAWS 2020.2008.24, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 18.0.5038, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.10 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 8.3 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
Dolphin with IE OK 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 | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Has details caption, figure caption for applet. |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure. |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Has details caption, figure caption for applet. |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Grouping caption, figure caption for applet. Out of grouping. |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure. |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Grouping caption, figure caption for applet. Out of grouping. |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption, figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption, figure caption for applet |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Edge does not support applets, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption, figure caption for applet. Out of figure. |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption for applet |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | FIGCAPTION is read out. | Embedded object. Figure caption for applet |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Chrome 45 removed applet support in 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption for applet |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | FIGCAPTION is read out. | Embedded object. Figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content | Figure caption for applet |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | FIGCAPTION is read out. | Embedded object. Figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Clickable button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin. Figure caption for applet. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | FIGCAPTION is read out. | Embedded object. Figure caption for applet |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Embedded object, clickable. Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | FIGCAPTION is read out. | Embedded object. Figure caption for applet |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Entering details, figure caption for applet, has details. | |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end. | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Entering details, figure caption for applet, has details. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end. | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read | |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end. | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read | |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet, figure end. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read | |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF52 | Reading | Nothing voiced - caption visible on screen, but not read | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Nothing voiced - caption not read, and applet ignored | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF41 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | FF38 | Reading | Group start, figure caption for applet. Figure caption for applet. Group end | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure, figure caption for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure. |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure. |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Safari on macOS no longer supports applets | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure. |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure. | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Figure caption for applet, figure. Figure caption for applet. End of, figure caption for applet, figure. | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Newline. Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.3 | Touch | Figure caption for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Normal, figure caption for applet | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Figure caption for applet |
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