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fieldset used to put border round text Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 46 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: F43

Code used for this test:


		<fieldset>
			<legend>Text Border</legend>
			<p>This is some text with a border</p>
		</fieldset>

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Bad NVDA with FF Causes problems in NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems in 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
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Grouping, text border. This is some text with a border. Out of grouping.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Text Border. This is some text with a border.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end text border.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. Text border. This is some text with a border. Group end text border.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end text border.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. Text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Group start, text border. This is some text with a border. Group end.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Text border. Blank. This is some text with a border
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Text border. This is some text with a border
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Legend not read This is some text with a border
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Grouping read out for non-group Text border, group. Text border. This is some text with a border. End of, text border, group
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading The text inside the fieldset is only read if you start interacting with the group Text border, group, with 2 items.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading The text inside the fieldset is only read if you start interacting with the group Text border, with 2 items, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading The text inside the fieldset is only read if you start interacting with the group Text border, group.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Ignored as expected
Fail VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch Text border. This is some text with a border.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchThe fieldset is announced as a form, but contains no form controls. Text border, form start. This is some text with a border, end text border, form end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Text border, this is some text with a border
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4Touch Text border, this is some text with a border
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1Touch Text border, this is some text with a border
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Text border. This is some text with a border
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Text border, this is some text with a border
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Ignored as expected

SortSite rules: AccWcag2-F43-4

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