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applet with fallback content Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 16 screen reader / browser combinations

If nothing is displayed for the applet (because the browser doesn't support applets) then there is no non-text content needing an alternative.

WCAG Technique: H35

Code used for this test:


		<applet code='appletComponentArch.DynamicTreeApplet' archive='https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/applet/examples/dist/applet_ComponentArch_DynamicTreeDemo/DynamicTreeDemo.jar' width='300' height='300'>
			<param name='permissions' value='sandbox'></param>
			Fallback content for applet
		</applet>

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%201533%201667%201783%201875%201975%2020100%2021100%2022100%2023100%

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Better NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2015.2, but now OK in NVDA 2023.3
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • 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 16.0.4350, but now OK in JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.14, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 8.3 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Good WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Bad SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Edge has no applet support, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, although it's visible on screen, no indication of applet content. Embedded object
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, although it's visible on screen, no indication of applet content. Embedded object
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Firefox 52 removed applet support in 2017, and doesn't render applet on screen unless applet has fallback content Fallback content for applet
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, although it's visible on screen, no indication of applet content. Embedded object
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, although it's visible on screen, no indication of applet content. Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 38 Reading Fallback content not read, no indication of what applet does. Embedded object, clickable
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, although it's visible on screen, no indication of applet content. Embedded object
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Chrome removed support for Java Applets in September 2015, and renders fallback on screen Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Safari on macOS no longer supports applets Fallback content for applet
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Fallback content for applet
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists Newline
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists Newline
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.3Safari iOS 8.3TouchiOS does not support applets Fallback content for applet
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Fallback content visible on screen, but nothing voiced in screen reader - no indication it exists
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for applet - no indication it exists

SortSite rules: AccHtmlAppletNoFallback

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