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PDF18 Document with doc title Screen reader compatibility

PDF WCAG
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 14 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: PDF18 Specifying document title using the Title entry in the document information dictionary

Code used for this test:


		<a href='SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf'>SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf</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%201520162017201867%201950%202075%202175%202275%

Change History

Last updated: September 11, 2022

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2017.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 17.0.2007 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems from VoiceOver macOS 10.14 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 12.4 to VoiceOver iOS 15.6
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Voices document title. This is document title
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Voices full URL instead of title Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading This is document title
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Voices full URL instead of title Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Voices full URL instead of title Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Voices full URL Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading This is document title
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Voices PDF document title, and filename part of URL. This is document title - SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Voices full URL Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail JAWS 17.0.2007IE11 Reading Voices full URL Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Voices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Voices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Voices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Voices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchVoices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchVoices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchVoices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchVoices full URL. URL displayed in browser tab instead of title. Slash SR_PDF_doc_title.pdf

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