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Link with aria-labelledby containing img with no alt Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 25 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:


		<a href='4567.html' aria-labelledby='a-aria-labelledby-span'><img src='1234.png'></a>
		<span id='a-aria-labelledby-span'>this is an aria labelled by</span>

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems in 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
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2018.1811.2, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.9, 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
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Reads out "link" with no label saying where link goes Link
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Reads out "link" with no label saying where link goes Link
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Reads out "link" with no label saying where link goes Link
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Reads out "link" with no label saying where link goes Link
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Reads out "link" with no label saying where link goes Link
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Reading Link graphic, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by link
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading reads out URL of link Link graphic four thousand, five hundred and sixty seven, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing reads out URL of link Four thousand, five hundred and sixty seven, graphic, this is an aria labelled by, link
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Reading no indication of link This is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF 28 Tabbing Unreachable by tabbing Skipped by tabbing
Fail NVDA 2012.3IE11 Reading reads out URL of link Link graphic four thousand, five hundred and sixty seven, this is an aria labelled by
Fail NVDA 2012.3IE11 Tabbing reads out URL of link four thousand, five hundred and sixty seven, graphic, this is an aria labelled by link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Image filename read instead of title Link graphic twelve thirty four. This is an aria labelled by.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Image filename read instead of title Link graphic twelve thirty four. This is an aria labelled by.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname in reading mode Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Tab, this is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname in reading mode Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname in reading mode Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname in reading mode Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link graphic
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by link
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname in reading mode Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by link graphic
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Reading ignores aria-labelledby and reads out img filename Link graphic twelve thirty four
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 28 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by link graphic
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname Link graphic test slash twelve thirty four
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing ignores aria-labelled and reads out img pathname Test slash twelve thirty four, link graphic
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading reads out path of link Link test slash 4567 dot html
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Link, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by. This is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Link image, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Link image, this is an aria labelled by
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading reads out image filename Link image one two three four PNG, this is an aria labelled by, this is an aria labelled by
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing reads out image filename Link image one two three four PNG, this is an aria labelled by
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image, test image
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image, logo other, test image
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch This is an aria labelled by, link image
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading This is an aria labelled by, link
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing This is an aria labelled by, link
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Link, this is an aria labelled by
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing ignores label and just reads blank link Link

SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTextBlank

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