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Data table with caption and th Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 5 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: H39: Using caption elements to associate data table captions with data tables

Code used for this test:


		<table>
		  <caption>Data table caption</caption>
		  <tbody>
			<tr>
			  <th>Morning</th>
			  <th>Afternoon</th>
			</tr>
			<tr>
			  <td>Free</td>
			  <td>Busy</td>
			</tr>
		  </tbody>
		</table>

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%2015100%2016100%2017100%2018100%2019100%202088%202188%202288%

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 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2022.2
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Better JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.10 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems in VoiceOver iOS 15.6
  • Good WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, caption, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF41 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF41 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table caption. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF41 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF41 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF41 Reading Each preceding TH in a header row read as header when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 pressed in TH cell. Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, morning, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Each preceding TH in a header row read as header when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 pressed in TH cell. Table with two columns and two rows. Data table caption. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, morning, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11Table Table, two rows, two columns, data table caption. Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11Table Table nine, data table caption, two rows, two columns (table nine, data table caption, one R one C, morning). Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Data table caption, table, two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchMeaningless row number read out for table caption. Data table caption, row -90020023372036854775808, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Morning, row header, column header, row 1 column 1. Afternoon, column header, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, data table caption, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchMeaningless row number read out for table caption. Data table caption, row -90020023372036854775808, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Morning, row header, column header, row 1 column 1. Afternoon, column header, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, data table caption, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchMeaningless row number read out for table caption. Data table caption, row -90020023372036854775808, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Morning, row header, column header, row 1 column 1. Afternoon, column header, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, data table caption, end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchColumn headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. Data table caption, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Morning, row 1 column 1. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, data table caption, end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchColumn headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. Data table caption, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Morning, row 1 column 1. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, data table caption, end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Data table caption, table start, 2 rows, 2 columns. Morning, row 1, column 1. Afternoon, column 2. Free, row 2, column 1. Afternoon, busy, column 2, table end, end data table caption.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Data table caption, table start, morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy, table end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch Data table caption. Morning, table start. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy, table end.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Table two rows, two columns, data table caption. Morning, column one, row one. Afternoon, column two, row one. Free, column one, row two. Busy, column two, row two.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlTableNoHeaders AccWcag1-5.5.1

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