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Data table with th cell headers Screen reader compatibility

HTML WCAG
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: works in a screen reader

Actual Result: causes problems in 5 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: H51: Using table markup to present tabular information

Code used for this test:


		<table>
		  <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%2014100%2015100%2016100%201783%2018100%2019100%2020100%2021100%2022100%2023100%

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 2012.1 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2012.1 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
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 13.0.852 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.9 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 10.3, but now OK in 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
  • Good SaToGo with IE OK in SaToGo 3.4.96.0
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
OK NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 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 2023.3FF 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, row one, column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, morning, column one, free. Afternoon, column two, busy.
OK NVDA 2014.1FF 31 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 2014.1IE11 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 2012.1FF 31 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 2012.1IE11 Reading No headers read in IE Table with two rows, row one, column one, morning. Column two, afternoon. Row two, column one, free. Column two, 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).
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. 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.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 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 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 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 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. Morning. Afternoon. Free. Busy.
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Reads cell headers when using table navigation commands Table with two columns and two rows. 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.
Fail JAWS 14.0.9002IE11 Reading When reading header rows, the TH for the first column is read along with the TH from the current column (e.g. Morning, afternoon) when Ctrl+Alt+Numpad+5 pressed 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 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 WindowEyes 9.2IE11Table Table, two rows, two columns, morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK WindowEyes 8.4IE11Table Table thirteen, two rows, two columns (table thirteen, one R one C, morning). Morning. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.13Safari 12.1 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.12Safari 10.1.2 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.11Safari 9.1.2 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.10Safari 9.0.1 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, busy, column 2 of 2.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.9Safari 7.0.3 Reading Table, 2 columns, 2 rows. Morning, column 1 of 2. Afternoon, column 2 of 2. Row 2 of 2, morning, free, column 1 of 2.
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari iOS 16.6 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 11.4Safari iOS 11.4 Reading Column headers are not read by the Read Screen gesture, but are read by the Read Item gesture. 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 The first column header is 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.
OK VoiceOver iOS 9.1Safari iOS 9.1 Reading Morning, table start. Afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy, table end.
OK VoiceOver iOS 8.4Safari iOS 8.4 Reading Morning, table start. Afternoon. Free. Busy, table end.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 7.1Safari iOS 7.1 Reading When reading header rows, the TH for the first column is read along with the TH from the current column (e.g. Morning, afternoon) Morning, table start. Morning, afternoon. Morning, free. Afternoon, busy.
OK Dolphin SR 15.05IE11 Reading Dolphin doesn't read TH headers for TD cells Table two rows, two columns. Morning, column one, row one. Afternoon, column two, row one. Free, column one, row two. Busy, column two, row two.
OK SaToGo 3.4.96.0IE11 Reading SaToGo doesn't read TH headers for TD cells, but can read corresponding cell in row one via keystroke 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