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Data table with summary and th Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 13 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: H73: Using the summary attribute of the table element to give an overview of data tables

Code used for this test:


		<table summary='Data table summary'>
		  <tbody>
			<tr>
			  <th>Morning</th>
			  <th>Afternoon</th>
			</tr>
			<tr>
			  <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%201583%201683%201783%201875%201988%202088%202188%202288%202388%

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Good NVDA with Chrome Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good NVDA with IE Stable - OK from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Good JAWS with Chrome Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Better JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 14.0.9002, but now OK in JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Better JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 2018.1811.2, 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
  • Bad VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 8.4 to VoiceOver iOS 16.6
  • Good WindowEyes with IE Stable - OK from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
  • Good Dolphin with IE OK in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one morning, column one morning. Afternoon, column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2017.3FF 60 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2016.2FF 48 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2016.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2015.2FF 41 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2015.2IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 41 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2014.1IE11 Reading Table with two rows and two columns, data table summary. Row one column one, morning. Column two afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Table with two columns and two rows. Data table summary. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Summary not read out Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 18.0.5038FF 52 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 18.0.5038IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 17.0.2619FF 48 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 17.0.2619IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 16.0.4350FF 41 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 16.0.4350IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 15.0.9023FF 41 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK JAWS 15.0.9023IE11 Reading Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002FF 41 Reading Column one TH read along with column two TH for cells in header row Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, morning, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading Column one TH read along with column two TH for cells in header row Summary colon, data table summary. Table with two columns and two rows. Morning (column one, row one, morning). Afternoon (column two, row one, morning, afternoon). Free (column one, row two, morning, free). Busy (column two, row two, afternoon, busy).
OK WindowEyes 9.2IE11Table Table, data table summary, two rows, two columns, morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11Table Table seven, data table summary, two rows, two columns (table seven, data table summary, one R one C, morning). Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Table two columns, two rows, data table summary. 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 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Summary not read out 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 iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6 Reading Summary not read out 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, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6 Reading Summary not read out 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, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7 Reading Summary not read out 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, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3 Reading Summary not read out 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, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4 Reading Summary not read out Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4 Reading Summary not read out Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows 2 columns. Afternoon, row 1 column 2. Morning, free, row 2 column 1. Afternoon, busy, row 2 column 2, table end, end, end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 10.3Safari iOS 10.3 Reading Summary not read out Morning, row 1, column 1, table start, 2 rows, 2 columns. Afternoon, column 2. Free, row 2, column 1. Afternoon, busy, column 2, table end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1 Reading Summary not read out Morning, table start. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy, table end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4 Reading Summary not read out Morning, table start. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy, table end.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Table two rows, two columns, summary data table summary, morning, column one, row one. Afternoon, column two, row one. Free, column one, row two. Busy, column two, row two.

SortSite rules: AccHtmlTableNoHeaders AccWcag1-5.5.1

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