PowerMapper
PowerMapper
object with alt attribute
Screen reader compatibility
HTML
Sep 11, 2022
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 50 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.
Browsers stopped displaying Flash content when Flash reached end-of-life in December 2020.
alt is not a valid HTML attribute on object elements.
Code used for this test:
<object alt='Alt text for object' data='startstop_movieclips.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash'>
</object>
Change History
Last updated: September 11, 2022
NVDA with Chrome
Better - caused problems in
NVDA 2019.2,
but now OK in NVDA 2022.2- NVDA with IE
Causes problems from
NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF
Better - caused problems in
NVDA 2019.2,
but now OK in NVDA 2022.2
- JAWS with Chrome
Causes problems 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 2019.1912.1,
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
Better - caused problems in
VoiceOver iOS 14.7,
but now OK in 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 | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF102 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF91 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF78 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable. |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | No description of non-text content. | Embedded object. |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF68 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank. |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of content | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | No description of non-text content. | Embedded object. |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF60 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank. |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of content | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF60 | Reading | No description voiced for object | Embedded object unavailable |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of content | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | Blank |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of content | Embedded object |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | Blank |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no indication of content | Embedded object |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF102 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF91 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF78 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported', but nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object displayed on screen - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF68 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button. |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start button. Stop button. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF60 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button. |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start button. Stop button. |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF52 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF38 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF38 | Reading | Flash start. Alt text for object button. Flash end. | |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF38 | Reading | Flash start. Alt text for object button. Flash end. | |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | ALT not read, no description of non-text content | Start button. Stop button. |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | Newline |
| VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Alt text for object | |
| VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.3 | Safari iOS 8.3 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Object, normal, start button. Stop button. |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start of Flash Player. Button, start. Button, stop. End of Flash player. |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlObjectNoAccName AccHtmlTimedMediaPlaceholder
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