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a element placeholder link with no event handler or href attribute Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 8 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: placeholder links

Code used for this test:


		<a>Placeholder text</a>

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.

100%80%60%40%20%0%20152016201791%201893%201993%202093%202193%202293%

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2017.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2017.3 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Good JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 18.0.5038 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 18.0.5038 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 10.3 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Placeholder text
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Announced as clickable, but no event handler so nothing happens when clicked Placeholder text, clickable
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Skipped when tabbing, as expected
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch Placeholder text
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch Placeholder text
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch Placeholder text
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch Placeholder text
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch Placeholder text
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Placeholder text
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Announced as a link, but doesn't function as link Link, placeholder text
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Announced as a link, but doesn't function as link Placeholder text, link

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