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Heading non-breaking spaces Screen reader compatibility

HTML
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 18 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.

Code used for this test:


		<h1> </h1>
		<p>Heading with only non-breaking spaces content</p>

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2012.1, but now OK in 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
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 16.0.4350, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.12, but now OK in 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
  • 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
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 29HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF 29HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK NVDA 2012.1IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11HeadingEmpty heading announced, with following paragraph as heading content Heading 1, Heading with only non-breaking spaces content
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1, space
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1, space
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1, space
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3HeadingEmpty heading announced Heading level 1, space
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1HeadingEmpty heading ignored
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11HeadingEmpty heading ignored
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11HeadingReads following paragraph as heading Heading with only non-breaking spaces content, heading level 1

SortSite rules: AccHtmlHeadingEmpty

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