object
with aria-labelledby
attribute
Screen reader compatibility
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.
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 from NVDA 2015.2 to NVDA 2019.2
NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2019.2, 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 Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2019.1912.1, but now OK in JAWS 2024.2409.2
VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.14, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 14.6
VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 14.7, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 17.7
WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Chrome 131 | Reading | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 128 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Edge 131 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Reading | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 115 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Edge 120 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | Screen says 'Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 102 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 91 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 78 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | Screen says 'This plug-in isn't supported' | Embedded object unavailable, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. | Embedded object, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 68 | Reading | ARIA description read, but unlabeled buttons. | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Embedded object |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. | Embedded object, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Embedded object |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | ARIA label is announced - but no way to interact with object | Embedded object unavailable - This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Embedded object |
![]() | FF 48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Embedded object |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Button. A plugin is needed to display this content. Button, hide plugin. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Voices URL of page | Embedded object, tests slash SR media dot HTML |
![]() | Chrome 131 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | FF 128 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Edge 131 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | Chrome 120 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | FF 115 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Edge 120 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | Chrome 105 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | FF 102 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Edge 105 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | Chrome 94 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | FF 91 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Edge 94 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | Chrome 86 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | FF 78 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Edge 92 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic unavailable. | |
![]() | Chrome 79 | Reading | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text, graphic. | |
![]() | FF 68 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start button. Stop button. |
![]() | Chrome 73 | Reading | Graphic, this is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | FF 60 | Reading | Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. | Unlabeled zero button. Hide plugin button. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start button. Stop button. |
![]() | FF 52 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
![]() | FF 48 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
![]() | FF 41 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end. |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | Reading | No description of non-text content | Start button. Start button. Button. |
![]() | Safari 17.6 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Safari 16.6 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Safari 15.6 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Safari 15.0 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Safari 14.1 | Reading | Nothing displayed on screen and nothing voiced for object | |
![]() | Safari 13.0 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 12.1 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 10.1.2 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 9.1.2 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari 9.0.1 | Reading | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 17.7 | Touch | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 16.6 | Touch | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | This is ARIA-LABELLEDBY text. | |
![]() | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists | |
![]() | IE11 | 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