A link with empty label Screen reader compatibility
HTML
Sep 11, 2022
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 87 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.
Code used for this test:
<p>Preceding content</p>
<a href='javascript:void(0);'></a>
Change History
Last updated: September 11, 2022
NVDA with Chrome Causes problems in NVDA 2022.2
NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF Causes problems 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 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.13, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 12.5
VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 8.4, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 15.6
WindowEyes with IE Worse - was OK in WindowEyes 8.4, but now causes problems in WindowEyes 9.2
Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Meaningless link name read. | Link, void zero |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Meaningless link name read. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Meaningless link name read. | Link, void zero |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Meaningless link name read. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. | Blank |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. | Blank |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. | Blank |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. | Blank |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but blank read out when tabbed to. | Blank |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF41 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF41 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Void zero, link |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, "blank" read out for focusable label. | Blank |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, but link URL read out. | Link void zero |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF102 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF102 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Edge 105 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF91 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF91 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Edge 94 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF78 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF78 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Edge 92 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF68 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF68 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF60 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF60 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF52 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF52 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Tab, void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF48 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF48 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF41 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF41 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, focus indicator very hard to see, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | FF29 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | FF29 | Tabbing | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Void left paren zero right paren, link |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | No link displayed, link gibberish read by screen reader. | Link, void left paren zero right paren |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Not visible in browser, and ignored in WindowEyes. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Text of previous element read as link label. | Link, preceding content |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | No link displayed, "link" read out. | Link |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | No link displayed, "link" read out. | Link |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 9.0.1 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Text of previous element read out as link label. | Preceding content, link |
![]() | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Link not visible in browser, and ignored in VoiceOver. | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Link not displayed, and not read. | |
![]() | IE11 | Tabbing | Link not displayed, and not read. |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTextBlank
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