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ARIA role=heading Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

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

WCAG Technique: ARIA12

Code used for this test:


		<div role='heading' aria-level='1'>First level heading</div>
		<p>Heading 1 content</p>
		<div role='heading' aria-level='2'>Second level heading</div>
		<p>Heading 2 content</p>

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%201480%2015100%2016100%2017100%2018100%2019100%2020100%2021100%2022100%2023100%

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Better NVDA with IE Better - caused problems in NVDA 2014.1, but now OK in NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • 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 2023.2311.34
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in 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 2023.3Chrome 120Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
OK NVDA 2012.1FF 29Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
Fail NVDA 2012.1IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11Heading First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11Heading Heading 1, first level heading. Heading 2, second level heading.
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3Heading Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch First level heading, heading level 1. Second level heading, heading level 2
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch Heading level 1, first level heading. Heading level 2, second level heading.
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11HeadingARIA headings ignored.

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