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Data table with role=columnheader headers but no th Screen reader compatibility

ARIA HTML
Nov 26, 2024

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 62 screen reader / browser combinations

Code used for this test:


		<table>
		<tbody role='rowgroup'>
			<tr role='row'>
			<td class='col1' role='columnheader'>Morning</td>
			<td class='col1' role='columnheader'>Afternoon</td>
			</tr>
			<tr role='row'>
			<td>Free</td>
			<td>Busy</td>
			</tr>
		</tbody>
		</table>

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%201440%201533%201633%201733%201838%201938%202038%20210%20220%202325%202425%

Change History

Last updated: November 26, 2024

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Bad NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2012.1 to NVDA 2024.4
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems in JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Good JAWS with IE Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Bad JAWS with FF Causes problems in JAWS 2024.2409.2
  • Better VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 13.6, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 14.6
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 16.6, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 17.7
  • Bad Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2024.4Chrome 131 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2024.4FF 128 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2024.4Edge 131 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2014.1FF 31 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2012.1FF 31 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail NVDA 2012.1IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Chrome 131 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2FF 128 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2024.2409.2Edge 131 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy (column 2, row 2, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy (column 2, row 2, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy (column 2, row 2, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy (column 2, row 2, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 31 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002FF 31 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 13.0.852FF 31 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 13.0.852IE11 Reading Reads cell headers using Ctrl+Alt+5 Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK VoiceOver macOS 14.6Safari 17.6 Reading Table two columns, two rows. Morning, column one of two. Afternoon, column two of two. Row two of two, morning, free, column one of two. Afternoon, busy, column two of two.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Ignores table completely.
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Treats as layout table, and doesn't read cells in second column. Morning, morning. Free
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Treats as layout table, and doesn't read cells in second column. Morning, morning. Free
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Treats as layout table, and doesn't read cells in second column. Morning, morning. Free
Fail VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Treats as layout table, and doesn't read cells in second column. Morning. Free
OK VoiceOver iOS 17.7Safari iOS 17.7 Reading Morning, row header, column header, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, column header, row 1, column 2. Morning, free, row 2, column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2, column 2, table end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4 Reading Announced as table, but no row/column positions or headers read. Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Table end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4 Reading Announced as table, but no row/column positions or headers read. Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy. Table end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning, afternoon. Free, busy.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
Fail Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Table treated as layout table - not announced as table, and no headers read. Normal, morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading Entering table, morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlTableNoHeaders

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