input type=image
with aria-labelledby
attribute
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 14 screen reader / browser combinations
A much better alternative is using an ALT attribute on the INPUT type=image element.
WCAG Technique: ARIA16
Code used for this test:
<input type='image' src='1234.png' aria-labelledby='input_img_aria_labelledby'>
<span id='input_img_aria_labelledby'>this is image button aria labelled by text</span>
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.
Change History
Last updated: December 12, 2023
- NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
- NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2023.3
- JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
- JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 17.0.2619, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
- VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
- VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
- WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE OK 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 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads "button" without saying what button does. | Button |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads "button" without saying what button does. | Button |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads "button" without saying what button does. | Button |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads "button" without saying what button does. | Button |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads "button" without saying what button does. | Button |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | Button, this is image button aria labelled by text | |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press space bar | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press enter | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press space bar | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press space bar | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button, to activate press space bar | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Tabbing | Tab, this is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Tabbing | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | Reads image filename without saying what button does. | Support slash test slash twelve thirty four dot PNG button |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Tabbing | This is image button aria-labelled by text, button | |
SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | no label is read | Button |
SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Tabbing | no label is read | Button |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlInputImageNoAlt
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