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object with aria-labelledby attribute Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 39 screen reader / browser combinations

Browsers stopped displaying Flash content when Flash reached end-of-life in December 2020.

Note: The ARIA Text Alternative Computation allows objects to be labelled by items hidden by CSS

WCAG Technique: ARIA10: Using aria-labelledby to provide a text alternative for non-text content

Code used for this test:


		<object aria-labelledby='object-aria-labelledby-id' data='startstop_movieclips.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash'>
		</object>
		<p id='object-aria-labelledby-id' style='display:none'>This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text</p>

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%20150%20160%20170%201825%201925%202088%202188%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 2019.2, but now OK in NVDA 2023.3
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1, 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
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 14.7, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Bad WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. Embedded object, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading ARIA description read, but unlabeled buttons. This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Embedded object
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. Embedded object, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank.
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading ARIA label is announced - but no way to interact with object Embedded object unavailable - This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading No description of non-text content Button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin.
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Voices URL of page Embedded object, tests slash SR media dot HTML
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Start button. Stop button.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Graphic, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Start button. Stop button.
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 41 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Start button. Start button. Button.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4TouchNothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Object, start button. Stop button.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlObjectNoAccName AccHtmlTimedMediaPlaceholder

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