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object with fallback content Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 37 screen reader / browser combinations

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

WCAG Technique: H53

Code used for this test:


		<object data='startstop_movieclips.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash'>
			<p>Fallback content for object</p>
		</object>

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%201550%201633%201733%201838%201938%202075%202175%202275%202375%

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
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 13.0.852 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 10.10, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Good VoiceOver iOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver iOS 8.3 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Better WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in 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 Flash is no longer supported by Chrome. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Firefox. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Edge. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Chrome. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Firefox. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Edge. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Chrome. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Firefox. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Edge. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Firefox. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Flash is no longer supported by Edge. Fallback content for object.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Flash is disabled in Chrome 76 and will be removed in Chrome 87. Fallback content for object.
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Unlabeled buttons, and no description of non-text content. Clickable button. Button, hide plugin. Blank.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, 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. Fallback content for object.
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 Fallback content not read, no description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading No description voiced for object Embedded object unavailable
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, no description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists Blank
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, no description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 38 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists Blank
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, no description of non-text content Embedded object
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Nothing voiced for fallback content displayed on screen - no indication it exists
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.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists
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.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 38 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 38 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 13.0.852FF 38 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Flash end.
Fail JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Flash start. Start button. Stop button. Flash end.
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail WindowEyes 8.4IE11 Reading Fallback content not read, no description of non-text content Start button. Stop button.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Fallback content for object
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 8.0.6 Reading Nothing voiced for object - no indication it exists Newline
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1Touch Fallback content for object
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.3Safari iOS 8.3Touch Fallback content for object
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Object, start button. Stop button.
Fail SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading No description of non-text content Start of Flash Player. Button, start. Button, stop. End of Flash player.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlObjectNoFallback 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