PowerMapper
PowerMapper
img with aria-describedby
Screen reader compatibility
ARIA HTML
Nov 26, 2024
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 78 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.
Note: aria-describedby maps to the accessible description of an object, which is different to the accessible name generated from alt / aria-label / aria-labelledby.
Code used for this test:
<img src='1234.png' aria-describedby='img-aria-describedby-code'>
<span id='img-aria-describedby-code'>this is an aria described by</span>
Change History
Last updated: November 26, 2024
- NVDA with Chrome
Causes problems from
NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
- NVDA with IE
Causes problems from
NVDA 2012.3 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF
Better - caused problems in
NVDA 2023.3,
but now OK in NVDA 2024.4- JAWS with Chrome
Causes problems from
JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
- JAWS with IE
Causes problems from
JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF
Causes problems from
JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
VoiceOver macOS
Worse - was OK in
VoiceOver macOS 13.6,
but now causes problems in VoiceOver macOS 14.6- VoiceOver iOS
Causes problems from
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 17.7
- WindowEyes with IE
Better - caused problems in
WindowEyes 8.4,
but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE
Causes problems in
Dolphin SR 15.05
- SaToGo with IE
Causes problems in
SaToGo 3.4.96.0
| Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA 2024.4 | Chrome 131 | Reading | Voiced as 'unlabeled graphic', and voices the aria-describedby text | Unlabelled graphic, this is an aria-describedby |
 NVDA 2024.4 | FF 128 | Reading | Announces the image with the aria-describedby text | Graphic, this is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2024.4 | Edge 131 | Reading | Voiced as 'unlabeled graphic', and voices the aria-describedby text | Unlabelled graphic, this is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Chrome 131 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2024.2409.2 | FF 128 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Edge 131 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 29 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby. This is an aria-describedby. |
| WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 14.6 | Safari 17.6 | Reading | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, this is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Announces the aria-describedby text as image name, and then when it appears in reading order | This is an aria described by, image. This is an aria-describedby |
| VoiceOver iOS 17.7 | Safari iOS 17.7 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, description, this is an aria described by, image, test image. |
| VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image, this is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image. This is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four PNG, image. This is an aria described by. |
| VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Reads out image filename, then aria-describedby. | One thousand two hundred and thirty four, image. This is an aria described by. |
| Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
| SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | Image ignored, but announces the aria-describedby text when it appears in reading order | This is an aria-describedby |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlImgNoAlt
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