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CSS content: property on link Screen reader compatibility

CSS HTML WCAG
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 45 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.

WCAG Failure: F87

Code used for this test:


		<style> a.important::after { content: ' Self Destruct - do not click' } </style>
		<a href='#' class='important'>Space Station</a>

Change History

Last updated: November 26, 2024

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2024.4
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 15.0.9023, but now OK in JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 14.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 17.7
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 29 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 29 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail NVDA 2012.1IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail NVDA 2012.1IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Tabbing Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 29 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Internal link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Internal link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Link, Space Station Self Destruct - do not click
OK VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7Touch Space Station, Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch Space Station, Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch Space Station, Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch Space Station, Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch Space Station, Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch Space Station, Link. Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch Space Station, Link. Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Space Station, Link. Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, Link
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch Space Station Self Destruct - do not click, Link
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, link
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Link, Space Station
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Text inserted by CSS content property not read. Space Station, Link

SortSite rules: AccWcag2-F87-1

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