input type=text
with aria-label
attribute
Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 14 screen reader / browser combinations
A more reliable alternative is wrapping the INPUT with a LABEL element.
WCAG Technique: ARIA14
Code used for this test:
<input type='text' aria-label='Enter search text'>
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: November 26, 2024
- NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
- NVDA with IE Causes problems in NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2017.3, but now OK in NVDA 2024.4
- JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
- JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
- VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 14.6
- VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 17.7
- WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to 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 2024.4 | Chrome 131 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2024.4 | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2024.4 | FF 128 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2024.4 | FF 128 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2024.4 | Edge 131 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2024.4 | Edge 131 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Reading | Enter search text, edit has auto complete | |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, has auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit, auto complete |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit, auto complete |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit, auto complete |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 40 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit, auto complete |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit, auto complete |
NVDA 2012.1 | FF 28 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, auto complete, blank | |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Reading | Doesn't read aria label in Reading mode | Edit |
NVDA 2012.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, blank | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Chrome 131 | Reading | Enter search text. Enter search text, edit. Enter search text, edit. | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | FF 128 | Reading | Enter search text. Enter search text edit. Blank. | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | FF 128 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Edge 131 | Reading | Enter search text. Enter search text edit. Enter search text edit. | |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Edge 131 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, enter search text, edit. | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank edit, enter search text edit. | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, enter search text, edit. | |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Reading | Enter search text. Enter search text, edit, type in text. | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Reading | Enter search text. Enter search text, edit, type in text. | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Edit. | |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Edit. | |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Edit. | |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit, enter search text, edit, type in text. | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Edit, enter search text, edit, type in text. | |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 40 | Tabbing | Tab, enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Edit | |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank, edit. | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text. Blank | |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text, beep, blank | |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Reading | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | FF 28 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text, Type in text | |
JAWS 13.0.852 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit, type in text | |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit | |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Reading | Edit box, enter search text | |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit box | |
VoiceOver macOS 14.6 | Safari 17.6 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 14.6 | Safari 17.6 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 8.0.6 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Reading | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | Enter search text, edit text | |
VoiceOver iOS 17.7 | Safari iOS 17.7 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari iOS 16.6 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Enter search text, text field | |
VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Enter search text, text field, double tap to edit | |
VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Enter search text, text field, double tap to edit | |
VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Enter search text, text field, double tap to edit | |
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | Enter search text, text field, double tap to edit | |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Reading | Enter search text, edit | |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Tabbing | Forms mode, enter search text, blank line, edit | |
SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Reading | no label read out | Editable text, blank |
SaToGo 3.4.96.0 | IE11 | Tabbing | reads previous heading instead of label | Aria-Label, Editable text, blank |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlControlLabelMissing
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