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iframe with fallback content Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 22 screen reader / browser combinations

Note: Fallback content inside the iframe element was allowed in HTML 4, but is forbidden in HTML 5.

WCAG Technique: H64 Example 2

Code used for this test:


		<iframe src='1234.html' width='400' height='100'>
			This is iframe text
		</iframe>

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%201582%201682%201782%201887%201987%202087%202187%202287%202387%202493%

Change History

Last updated: November 26, 2024

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2023.3, but now OK in NVDA 2024.4
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • 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 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Bad VoiceOver macOS Causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 14.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 17.7
  • 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
OK NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
OK NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page. Example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page. Example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame, blank.
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Frame, example hyperlink, link. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page. Example hyperlink, link. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Fallback content is ignored Iframe, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of iframe, blank.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Silence. Iframe, example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page. Example hyperlink, link. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Reading Fallback content is ignored Iframe, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of iframe, blank.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 40 Tabbing Silence when tab focus stops on iframe. Focus trap on forward tabbing - only when NVDA running Silence. Example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, this is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, this is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page. Example hyperlink, link. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Reading Fallback content is ignored IFrame, This is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 28 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored IFrame. This is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Example hyperlink, link.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading IFRAME alternative content ignored, and doesn't appear in the DOM. Frame, This is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Out of frame.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Frame, example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Frame, example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Frame, example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Doesn't read out fallback content. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Frame, example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an. Link example hyperlink. In the target page.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Doesn't read out alternative content. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Tabbing Frame, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Doesn't read out alternative content. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Frame, example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an, link example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Doesn't read out alternative content. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Tabbing Tab, frame, example hyperlink.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Doesn't read out alternative content. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Tab, frame, example target. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. This is an, link example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Tab, example target. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, and doesn't read out alternative content. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Tab, frame, example target. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Tab, example target, frame. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, and doesn't read out alternative content. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Tabbing Reads out title tag of frame source page. Tab, frame, example target. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, and doesn't read out alternative content. Example target frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 40 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Tab, frame, this is an. Tab, example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading JAWS 15 reads out iframe fallback content, JAWS 16 and later no longer read this. Example target frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, and doesn't read out alternative content. Example target frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 29 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame. This is an. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Reads out ALT content - not seen another screen reader do this. Example target frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. This is iframe text. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Reading Reads out filename of frame. Twelve thirty four frame. This is an. Link, example hyperlink. In the target page. Twelve thirty four frame end.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 29 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame. This is an. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, fallback content is ignored. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target, frame end.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page, fallback content is ignored. Example target frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. Example target frame end.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 29 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Reads out title tag of frame source page. Example target, frame. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example target, frame. Example hyperlink, link.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Stops speaking at line wraps in IFRAME. This is an. Link, example hyperlink. In the. Target. Page.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame. Link, example hyperlink
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Reads out "Untitled" for frame name. Untitled iframe. This is an, link, example hyperlink, in the target page. End frame.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Tabbing Entering frame, link, example hyperlink. Leaving frame.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Tabbing Entering frame, link, example hyperlink. Leaving frame.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Tabbing Entering frame, link, example hyperlink. Leaving frame.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Tabbing Entering frame. Link, example hyperlink. Leaving frame.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Tabbing Entering frame. Link, example hyperlink. Leaving frame.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Tabbing Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Tabbing Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Tabbing Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Tabbing Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Tabbing Link, example hyperlink
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Meaningless frame title read out. Frame one
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Leaving frame link, example hyperlink
OK VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchFallback content is ignored This is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchFallback content is ignored This is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchFallback content is ignored This is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page.
OK VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1TouchFallback content is ignored This is an, example hyperlink, link, in the target page.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Frame, normal, this is an. Example hyperlink, link. In the target page
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Frame, example hyperlink, link
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Fallback content is ignored This is an, link, example hyperlink in the target page
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Tabbing Fallback content is ignored Example hyperlink, link

SortSite rules: AccWcag1-1.1.7

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