Layout table with single cell Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Sep 11, 2022

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 2 screen reader / browser combinations

Code used for this test:


		<table>
		  <tbody>
			<tr>
			  <td>This is some text</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%2014100%2015100%2016100%2017100%2018100%201988%2020100%2021100%2022100%

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 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.3 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 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2022.2207.25
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 12.5
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 12.4, but now OK 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
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF102 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF91 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF78 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF68 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF60 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF60 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF48 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF41 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2012.3FF32 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF102 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF91 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF78 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF68 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF60 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF52 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF48 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF41 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF31 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4 Reading Treated as a data table. This is some text, table start, end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1 Reading Treated as a layout table. This is some text.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Treated as a layout table. Normal, this is some text.
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Treated as data table. Entering table, this is some text. Leaving table.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlTableNoHeaders

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