Accessibility specialists

JAWS HTML Support

A Work in progress:
Last updated 15 May 2026.
Editor:
Steve Faulkner
Co-editor:
Graeme Coleman
GitHub Repo:
screen-reader-HTML-support
Found a bug?
Please report it.

Table of contents

How HTML elements are supported by screen readers

Typical HTML element support patterns by screen readers:

Note: The combination of patterns supported varies from element to element. Support for (and announcements of) some elements can vary between screen reader software.

About JAWS

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a popular commercial screen reader for Windows. It works with all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Licences for JAWS must be purchased, but a free functional trial is available to use for up to 40 minutes at a time.

JAWS: quick commands

JAWS key: Insert (or Caps Lock, configurable) by default.

  • Start/stop JAWS: JAWS + F4
  • Toggle between "Reading" and "Forms" mode: JAWS + Z
    Note: The mode changes other keyboard interactions
  • Read all content: JAWS + ↓
  • Stop reading: Control
  • Elements list:
    • List all links: JAWS + F7
    • List all headings: JAWS + F6
  • Next/previous link: K / Shift + K
  • Next/previous heading: H / Shift + H
  • Next/previous landmark/region: R / Shift + R
  • Main landmark: Q
  • Next/previous form (edit) field: E / Shift + E
  • Tables:
    • Next/previous table: T / Shift + T
    • Navigate table cells: Control + Alt + Arrow keys (→ / ← / ↓ / ↑)
    • Start/end of row: Home / End
    • Start/end of column: Shift + Home / Shift + End
    • Start/end of a table: Control + Home / Control + End
  • Next/previous list: L / Shift + L
  • Next/previous list item: I / Shift + I
  • Next/previous graphic: G / Shift + G

HTML support

Support legend

JAWS HTML support table

JAWS (2026) HTML Support Chrome Version 148.0.7778.97 (Official Build) (64-bit) on Windows 11
Element Test Case Represents AURAL UI Interaction Supported Notes
a

a with href test

 

With href: a hyperlink

 

With href:

 

With href:

  • List Links Insert + F7
  • Next Link Tab
  • Prior Link Shift + Tab
  • Next Visited V
  • Prior Visited Link Shift + V
  • Open Link Enter
  • Open Link in New Window Shift + Enter
  • Next Non Link Text N
  • Prior Non Link Text Shift + N

 

With href:

With href:

  • In all cases, JAWS announces the link role
  • In all cases, JAWS announces the link role before the link label when using reading keys like the Arrow keys, but after the link label when using the Tab key
  • In all cases, JAWS announces instructions for activating the link when the link receives focus via the Tab key, but not when the link receives focus via the Arrow keys
  • When a link has both visible text and a title attribute (but no other attributes), JAWS announces the contents of both together
  • JAWS announces the contents of the aria-label attribute when it is applied to the <a> element, not the visible text
  • JAWS announces the content referenced using the aria-describedby attribute when the link receives focus via the Tab key, but not when the link receives focus via the Arrow keys
  • When a link has different visible text, title text, aria-label text, and content referenced via the aria-describedby attribute, JAWS only announces the content of the aria-label attribute and the content referenced using the aria-describedby attribute; the visible text is not announced, nor is the content within the title attribute
  • When a link has the same visible text, title text, and aria-label text, JAWS only announces the aria-label text

Link types:

  • Link: This indicates a link that has not been visited.
  • Visited Link: This indicates a link that has been visited. This is determined by your browser history, not by which links have been selected on the current Web page.
  • Same Page Link: This indicates a link that moves you to another location on the same page.
  • Send Mail Link: This indicates a link that opens a new e-mail message using your default e-mail program.
  • FTP Link: This indicates a link that points to a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server.

Additional notes:

  • The following from the JAWS help documentation does not appear to work and is not required: "By Default, JAWS speaks the on screen text of a link, but you can set JAWS to instead speak Title text, assigned by the page author within the HTML code. Title text normally provides supplemental information about the link".
  • By default, JAWS announces the link type, but you can disable this, so JAWS announces same page links, send mail links, and FTP links as "link," or "Visited Link."

 

 
a without href a with no href test An anchor No special commands

Treated as regular text without any link functionality.

No semantics conveyed or expected as <a> has a role="generic"
abbr abbr test An abbreviation

No special commands

 

JAWS can read title text associated with abbreviations and acronyms on web pages.
To enable this feature:

  1. Open the Utilities menu
  2. Select Settings Center
  3. Expand the Web/HTML/PDFs group
  4. Expand the Reading group
  5. Navigate to the Expand Abbreviations option and press Spacebar to check its checkbox
  6. Navigate to the Expand Acronyms option and press Spacebar to check its checkbox

By default

Via preference

No semantics conveyed by default

 

Note that expansions are not announced by default and that expansions provided using the title attribute are not available to keyboard only users. Refer to Using the HTML title attribute.
address address test Contact information for a page or article element No special commands

no accessible name

With accessible name

With an explicit accessible name provided using (for example) the aria-label attribute, address is announced as a group.

 

Without an explicit accessible name provided using (for example) the aria-label attribute, the group role is not announced, nor is any other role.
area area test Hyperlink or dead area on an image map
  • Test AREA-001: area element:
    • Tab key navigation:
      • When navigating into the map from above / below: contents of the alt attribute on the <img> element, image map, contents of the alt attribute on the <area> element, image map, link, graphic, to activate press Enter
      • When navigating to individual items within the map: contents of the alt attribute on the <area> element, image map, link, graphic, to activate press Enter
    • Arrow key navigation:
      • When navigating into the map from above / below: Image map, link, graphic, contents of the alt attribute on the <area> element
      • When navigating to individual items within the map: Image map, link, graphic, contents of the alt attribute on the <area> element
  • Test AREA-002: area element with aria-label instead of alt:
    • Tab key navigation:
      • When navigating into the map from above / below: contents of the alt attribute on the <img> element, image map, contents of the aria-label attribute on the <area> element, image map, link, graphic, to activate press Enter
      • When navigating to individual items within the map: contents of the aria-label attribute on the <area> element, image map, link, graphic, to activate press Enter
    • Arrow key navigation:
      • When navigating into the map from above / below: Image map, link, graphic, contents of the aria-label attribute on the <area> element
      • When navigating to non-start / non-end squares within the map: Image map, link, graphic, contents of the aria-label attribute on the <area> element
  • List Links Insert + F7
  • Next Link Tab
  • Prior Link Shift + Tab
  • Next Visited Link V
  • Prior Visited Link Shift + V
  • Open Link Enter
  • Open Link in New Window Shift + Enter
  • Next Non Link Text N
  • Prior Non Link Text Shift + N

When navigating into the image map for the first time using the Tab key, JAWS announces the contents of the alt attribute applied to the associated <img> element. However, it does not announce the contents of this alt attribute when navigating into the image map using the Arrow keys.

 

When navigating into the image map for the first time using the Tab key, JAWS announces the term image map twice: the first time in relation to the associated <img> element, and a second time in relation to the associated <map> element. However, it only announces the term image map once when navigating into the map using the Arrow keys.

 

When navigating through individual images in the map using the Tab key, JAWS announces the contents of the alt or aria-label attribute on the <area> element first, and then announces the element's role and instructions. When navigating through individual images in the map using the Arrow keys, JAWS announces the contents of the element's role and instructions first, and then announces the contents of the alt or aria-label attribute on the <area> element.

 

From an aural point of view, there is no difference to using the aria-label attribute as opposed to the alt attribute on the <area> element. JAWS announces both in the same way.
aria-level h7-h9 via aria-level elements heading levels greater than 6
  • List Headings Insert + F6
  • Next Heading H
  • Prior Heading Shift + H
  • First Heading Alt + Insert + Home
  • Last Heading Alt + Insert + End
  • Next Heading at Level - number keys 1 through 6
  • Prior Heading at Level Shift + 1 through 6
  • First Heading at Level Alt + Ctrl + Insert + 1 through 6
  • Last Heading at Level Alt + Ctrl + Insert + Shift + 1 through 6
Issue filed: JAWS does not support aria-level on h1-h6
article article test Self-contained syndicatable or reusable composition
  • Test AR-001: Plain article:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Article, article contents, article end

  • Test AR-002: article with <h1>:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Article, article contents, article end

  • Test AR-003: article with aria-label:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Contents of the aria-label attribute, article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Contents of the aria-label attribute, article, article contents, contents of the aria-label attribute, article end

  • Test AR-004: article with aria-labelledby:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Contents referenced by the aria-labelledby attribute, article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Contents referenced by the aria-labelledby attribute, article, article contents, contents referenced by the aria-labelledby attribute, article end

  • Test AR-005: article with title attribute:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Contents of the title attribute, article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Contents of the title attribute, article contents, contents of the title attribute element, article end

      Note: the contents of the title attribute are announced after the first word in the body of the article contents is announced, rather than alongside the article role when navigating into the article.

  • Test AR-006: article with aria-describedby:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Article, article contents, article end

      Note: the referenced contents of the aria-describedby attribute are not announced when navigating to the article container, either when using the arrow keys or the O / Shift + O keys.

  • Test AR-007: article with aria-label and title attributes:
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Contents of the aria-label attribute, article

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Contents of the aria-label attribute on the <article> element, article, article contents, contents of the aria-label attribute on the <article> element, article end

      Note: the contents of the title attribute are announced after the first word in the body of the article contents is announced, rather than alongside the article role when the article container receives focus.

  • Test AR-008: article with tabindex="0":
    • O / Shift + O key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      Article

    • Tab key navigation (navigating to article container only):

      article contents, article region

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to article container and its contents):

      Article, article contents, article end

  • Move to Next Article O
  • Move to Previous Article Shift + O
  • Article List Insert + Ctrl + O

Included as a navigable region < JAWS 2018

 

Possible bug: when the title attribute is applied to the <article> element, JAWS does not announce the contents of this attribute when navigating into the article. Instead, it announces the contents of this attribute immediately after announcing the first word inside the article. (Test AR-007)
aside aside test Sidebar for tangentially related content
  • Test AS-001: Plain aside:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      first line of visible text, complementary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

  • Test AS-002: aside with child <h1>:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      first line of visible text, complementary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

  • Test AS-003: aside with aria-label attribute:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      first line of visible text, contents of the aria-label attribute, complementary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

  • Test AS-004: aside with aria-labelledby:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      first line of visible text, including structural information, content referenced by the aria-labelledby attribute, complementary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

  • Test AS-005: aside with title attribute:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      First word in the visible text, contents of the title attribute, contents of the title attribute, complimentary information

      Notes:

      • The first word in the main body section of the aside is announced
      • The contents of the title attribute are announced twice
    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      First word in the visible text, contents of the title attribute, remainder of the visible text

      Note: when navigating into the aside container using the Down arrow key:

      • The first word in the main body section of the aside is announced
      • The contents of the title attribute are announced
      • The remaining contents of the aside are announced
  • Test AS-006: aside with aria-describedby:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      Content referenced from the aria-describedby attribute, including structural information, complementary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

  • Test AS-007: aside with aria-label and title attributes:
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      First word in the visible text, Contents of the title attribute, Contents of the aria-label attribute, complimentary information

      Note: when navigating into the aside container using the R key:

      • The first word in the main body section of the aside is announced
      • The contents of the title attribute are announced
      • The contents of the aria-label attribute are announced
      • Complimentary information is announced
    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      First word in the visible text, Contents of the title attribute, remainder of the visible text

      Note: when navigating into the aside container using the Down arrow key:

      • The first word in the main body section of the aside is announced
      • The contents of the title attribute are announced
      • The remaining contents of the aside are announced
  • Test AS-008: aside with tabindex="0":
    • R / Shift + R key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      visible text, complimentary information

    • Arrow key navigation (navigating to aside container and its contents):

      visible text

    • Tab key navigation (navigating to aside container only):

      visible text
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region Shift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R

Included as a navigable region

 

Possible bugs:

An issue occurs when the title attribute is applied to the container <aside> element:

  • In all cases, an whether the user navigates to the <aside> container using the R / Shift + R keys or the Arrow navigation keys, JAWS announces the first word inside the <aside> container before anything else (Test AS-005, Test AS-007)
  • If a user navigates to an <aside> container that only includes a title attribute using the R / Shift + R keys, JAWS announces the contents of the title attribute twice (Test AS-005)

 

An issue also occurs when the aria-describedby attribute is applied to the container <aside> element: if a user navigates to an <aside> container that only includes an aria-describedby attribute using the R / Shift + R keys, JAWS announces structural information about the referenced text (for example, "Heading" to announce that the referenced text is a heading). (Test AS-006)
audio audio test Audio player

Note: the below findings relate to the <audio>, not the controls inside the player

  • Test AU-001: audio element:
    • Arrow key navigation:

      Audio start, audio player controls, audio end

    • Tab key navigation:

      Elapsed time, colon zero colon zero zero one zero zero, mute, group

  • Test AU-002: audio element with aria-label:
    • Arrow key navigation:

      Audio start, group start, contents of the aria-label attribute, audio player controls, group end, contents of the aria-label attribute, audio end

    • Tab key navigation:

      One of the following (refer to notes):

      1. Elapsed time, colon zero colon zero zero one zero zero, mute, group; or
      2. contents of the aria-label attribute, group
  • Test AU-003: audio element with aria-label and aria-describedby:
    • Arrow key navigation:

      Audio start, group start, contents of the aria-label attribute, audio player controls, group end, contents of the aria-label attribute, audio end

    • Tab key navigation:

      One of the following (refer to notes):

      1. Elapsed time, colon zero colon zero zero one zero zero, mute, group; or
      2. contents of the aria-label attribute, group
 If the audio element has a controls attribute the buttons in the UI are navigable using button commands.
Controls in the audio player are accessible.

 

Possible bugs:

  • JAWS does not announced the content referenced by the aria-describedby attribute when the container <audio> element receives focus (either using reading keys or the Tab key) (Test AU-003)
  • JAWS does not announce the role and accessible name of the player consistently when the <audio> container receives Tab focus; it sometimes announces the role and state, but other times it announces random content within the player. To resolve this, a user can navigate to the Play button and then press the Shift + Tab keys to navigate back to the container, at which point the correct role and name information is conveyed. (Test AU-001, Test AU-002, Test AU-003)
b b test Text bolded for utilitarian purposes No special commands
Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
base No test Base URL and default target browsing context for hyperlinks and forms None expected No special commands
No UI
bdi bdi test Text directionality isolation Test BDI-001: bdi element:

Element content

 No special commands
No aural impact; structure-only element.
bdo bdo test Text directionality formatting Test BDO-001: bdo element:

Element content

 No special commands
No special semantics conveyed. Reads text correctly regardless of direction.
blockquote blockquote test A section quoted from another source
  • List Block quotes Ctrl + Insert + Q
Semantics conveyed via reading keys. Semantics are not conveyed when a blockquote with tabindex="0" receives Tab key focus.
body No test Document body Element content No special commands

No semantics conveyed

Is included in focus order in most browsers.
br br test Line break, e.g. in poem or postal address No special commands
Line break
button button test Button control
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button Shift + B
Semantics conveyed via navigation and element name.

 

JAWS announces instructions for activating the button ("To activate, press Enter") when it receives focus via the Tab / Shift + Tab keys. However, JAWS does not announce instructions for activating the button when it receives focus via the Arrow or B / Shift + B keys.

 

When the disabled attribute is present on the button, JAWS skips the button entirely when navigating the page using the Tab / Shift + Tab keys and B / Shift + B. However, JAWS announces the name and role of the button, along with its state ("unavailable") when navigating the page using the Arrow keys.

 

When aria-pressed="true" is applied to the button, JAWS announces it as a "toggle button", and the instructions are updated to: "To toggle the state, press Spacebar".
canvas canvas test Scriptable bitmap canvas No special commands
The canvas is 'transparent' for screen reader users. HTML content included in the HTML5 canvas sub DOM is announced and navigable by screen reader users and is navigable by keyboard users. Note: advised to add role=presentation to <canvas> to avoid unnecessary repetition of graphic role information.
caption caption test Table caption No special commands
Announced when a table is navigated to. Used as table title in the table list (List Tables Ctrl + Insert + T) dialog.
cite cite test Reference to a creative work Test BLK-001: blockquote + cite elements:

visible text

 No special commands

No semantics conveyed or expected as <cite> has a role="generic"
code code test Computer code
  • Test CS-001: code element:

    element content, including literal announcements for special characters (for example, "less" for the "<" character and "greater" for the ">" character)

  • Test CS-002: code element with tabindex="0":
    • Arrow key navigation:

      element content, including literal announcements for special characters (for example, "less" for the "<" character and "greater" for the ">" character)

    • Tab key navigation:

      element content, including literal announcements for special characters (for example, "less" for the "<" character and "greater" for the ">" character)

 No special commands

No semantics conveyed or expected as <code> currently has a role="generic"

col No test Table column None expected No special commands
No semantics conveyed
colgroup colgroup test Group of columns in a table No special commands
No semantics conveyed
data data test Machine-readable equivalent Test DA-001: data element:

visible text

 No special commands

No semantics conveyed or expected as <data> has a role="generic"
datalist datalist test Container for options for combobox control
  • Test DI-001: datalist with input: (when data list is expanded and focus moves to the first option using the Down arrow key): autofill list box expanded, visible option text 1 of N, to move to an item press the arrow keys
  • Test DI-002: datalist with input and aria-label: (when data list is expanded and focus moves to the first option using the Down arrow key): autofill list box expanded, visible option text 1 of N, to move to an item press the arrow keys
No special commands
JAWS announces "autofill list box expanded" when navigating into content marked up using the datalist element. The application of the aria-label attribute on the datalist element has no effect; JAWS does not announce the contents of the aria-label attribute as the list's accessible name.
dd dd test Content for corresponding dt element(s) No special commands
Included as part of dt list item, user must use arrow down for content to be announced. If user navigates via list item navigation (Next Item in a List I) from dt then dd content will not be announced.
del del test A removal from the document No special commands Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
  • JAWS does not announce the contents of the datetime attribute when it is applied to the del element
  • JAWS does not announce any information associated with the cite attribute when it is applied to the del element
  • When tabindex="0" is applied to the del element:
    • JAWS announces both "strikethrough deletion" and "end strikethrough deletion" when it receives Arrow key focus
    • JAWS only announces "strikethrough deletion" when it receives Tab key focus
details details test Disclosure widget container

Test DS-010: details element with aria-label:

  • Arrow key navigation:
    • [When navigating into the group] Group, start, contents of the aria-label attribute
    • [When navigating out of the group] Group, end, contents of the aria-label attribute
  • Tab key navigation:

    contents of the aria-label attribute, group

No special commands

JAWS makes no special announcement when the details element receives focus (either using reading keys or the Tab key) unless the element includes an accessible name.

 

Also refer to the summary element.
dfn dfn test Defining instance of a term No special commands
No semantics conveyed Refer to JAWS tracker Issue 821
dialog dialog test The dialog element represents a transitory part of an application, in the form of a small window ("dialog box") When the dialog opens focus is moved to first focusable element. dialog can be closed with the ESC key. Upon closing focus moves back to the trigger control. While displayed focus is contained within the dialog.

Note: focus is contained within the dialog, but the browser address bar is included within the focus order. This is a browser implemented behaviour.

 

Possible bug: when tabindex="-1" is applied to the dialog element, JAWS does not announce the dialog's role or accessible name (if provided). JAWS only announces the contents of the dialog.

div div test Generic flow container
  • Move to Next Division Z
  • Move to Prior Division Shift + Z
  • List Divisions Ctrl + Insert + Z

No semantics conveyed.

 

As expected, the contents of an aria-label attribute applied to a div element are not announced.
dl dl test Association list consisting of zero or more name-value groups
  • List All Ordered, Unordered, and Definition Lists Ctrl + Insert + L
  • Next List L
  • Previous List Shift + I
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous item in a List Shift + I

Refer to: Adrian Roselli: Updated Brief Note on Description List Support - Chrome 131 / JAWS 2025.2412.50

 

Note: JAWS will announce definition list of N items (plural), even when the list only includes a single item.
dt dt test Legend for corresponding dd element(s)
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous Item in a List Shift + I
Identified as a list item
em em test Stress emphasis No special commands No semantics conveyed. Refer to: Scree Readers support for text level HTML semantics
embed embed test Plugins    
 
fieldset fieldset test Group of form controls
  • Test FLGND-001: fieldset element with legend element:
    • Arrow key navigation to and from fieldset container:

      Group start, legend element text, group contents, group end, legend element text

    • Tab key navigation into fieldset contents:

      JAWS' instructions for operating form controls inside the fieldset, legend element text, group, role, name, state, and any further instructions associated with the first element in the fieldset that receives keyboard focus

  • Test FLGND-002: fieldset element with legend element containing a h2 element:
    • Arrow key navigation to and from fieldset container:

      Group start, heading level [heading level], legend element text, group contents, group end

    • Tab key navigation into fieldset contents:

      JAWS' instructions for operating form controls inside the fieldset, legend element text, group, role, name, state, and any further instructions associated with the first element in the fieldset that receives keyboard focus

  • Test FLGND-003: fieldset element with aria-labelledby, with legend element:
    • Arrow key navigation to and from fieldset container:

      Group start, legend element text, group contents, group end

    • Tab key navigation into fieldset contents:

      JAWS' instructions for operating form controls inside the fieldset, contents of the element referenced by the aria-labelledby attribute on the fieldset element, group, role, name, state, and any further instructions associated with the first element in the fieldset that receives keyboard focus

  • Test FLGND-004: fieldset element, legend element with aria-label:
    • Arrow key navigation to and from fieldset container:

      Group start, contents of the aria-label attribute, group contents, Group end, contents of the aria-label attribute

    • Tab key navigation into fieldset contents:

      JAWS' instructions for operating form controls inside the fieldset, contents of the aria-label attribute, group, role, name, state, and any further instructions associated with the first element in the fieldset that receives keyboard focus

  • Test FLGND-005: fieldset element, no legend element:
    • Arrow key navigation to and from fieldset container:

      group contents

    • Tab key navigation into fieldset contents:

      role, name, state, and any further instructions associated with the first element in the fieldset that receives keyboard focus

No special commands, fieldset presence and accessible name announced when first control child is navigated to using virtual keys navigation keys for the child control.
  • When a fieldset includes a legend that does not include additional markup (such as a heading), JAWS announces the group role and the legend text as a single string when navigating into the fieldset using the Down arrow key (Test FLGND-001)
  • When a fieldset includes a legend that does include additional markup (such as a heading (Test FLGND-002) or an aria-labelledby attribute (Test FLGND-003)), JAWS only announce the group role when navigating into the fieldset using the Down arrow key; the user must press the Down arrow key a second time to hear the legend text
  • When using the Down arrow key to navigate into a fieldset that includes an aria-labelledby that references content outside of the associated legend, JAWS prioritises and announces the legend text in place of the aria-labelledby referenced text (Test FLGND-003)
  • When using the Tab key to navigate into a fieldset that includes an aria-labelledby that references content outside of the associated legend, JAWS prioritises and announces the aria-labelledby referenced text in place of the legend text (Test FLGND-003)
  • When the aria-label attribute is applied to the legend element, JAWS announces the contents of the aria-label rather than the visible legend text. (Test FLGND-004)
  • When a fieldset is missing an accessible name entirely (either via the legend element or a suitable equivalent, such as the aria-label or aria-labelledby attributes to provide an accessible name), no semantics are conveyed by JAWS (Test FLGND-005)
figcaption figcaption test Caption for figure Test FC-001: figure with figcaption element:

element contents

No special commands
 
figure figure test Figure with optional caption No special commands
  • When the figure receives focus via the Down arrow key, JAWS announces the group role when the aria-label (Test FG-002), aria-labelledby (Test FG-003) or title (Test FG-004 and Test FG-007) attributes are used to provide an accessible name for the figure
  • When the figure receives focus via the Down arrow key, JAWS does not announce the group role if only the figcaption element is present (Test FG-005), and does not announce the group role if the figure element is missing an accessible name altogether
  • When the figure receives focus via the Down arrow key, JAWS does not announce the contents referenced by the aria-describedby attribute; the user must navigate to this content separately (Test FG-006)
footer footer test Footer for a page or section
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region Shift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R

  • When the body element represents the sectioning content / root of the footer element (Test FT-001):
    • Users can navigate to the region using JAWS' region navigation keys, JAWS announces the footer role ("content information"), and JAWS announces the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the footer using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby
    • Possible bug: JAWS does not announce the role of the footer when navigating into it using the Down arrow key, nor does it announce the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the footer using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby
  • When the body element is not the sectioning / root of the footer element (all other tests):
    • Users can not navigate to the region using JAWS' region navigation keys
    • JAWS does not announce the footer role; it only announces the footer element's contents
    • JAWS does not announce the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the footer using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby, when navigating into the footer using the Down arrow key
  • Possible bug: when the title attribute is applied to the footer element, JAWS does not announce the contents of this attribute when navigating into the footer. Instead, it announces the contents of this attribute immediately after announcing the first word inside the footer. This is possibly because, in the examples used, we have nested the footer inside an article element, and this issue also arises when the title attribute is also applied to the article element (refer to findings related to the article element for further information)
form form test User-submittable form
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region Shift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R
No semantics conveyed unless form has an accessible name, then exposed as a landmark.
h1 - h6 h1 - h6 test Section heading
  • List Headings Insert + F6
  • Next Heading H
  • Prior Heading Shift + H
  • First Heading Alt + Insert + Home
  • Last Heading Alt + Insert End
  • Next Heading at Level - number keys 1 through 6
  • Prior Heading at Level Shift + 1 through 6
  • First Heading at Level Alt + Ctrl + Insert + 1 through 6
  • Last Heading at Level Alt + Ctrl + Insert + Shift + 1 through 6
When navigating through content using JAWS keyboard shortcuts (such as the H / Shift + H keys), JAWS announces the heading contents followed by the heading level.

 

When navigating through content using the Down arrow key, JAWS announces the heading level followed by the heading contents.
head No test Container for document metadata None expected No special commands No UI
header header test Introductory or navigational aids for a page or section
  • Move to Next Region R
  • Move to Previous Region Shift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R

  • When the body element represents the sectioning content / rooter of the header element (Test HD-001):
    • Users can navigate to the region using JAWS' region navigation keys, JAWS announces the header role ("banner"), and JAWS announces the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the header using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby
    • Possible bug: JAWS does not announce the role of the header when navigating into it using the Down arrow key, nor does it announce the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the header using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby
  • When the body element is not the sectioning / root of the header element (all other tests):
    • Users can not navigate to the region using JAWS' region navigation keys
    • JAWS does not announce the header role; it only announces the header element's contents
    • JAWS does not announce the accessible name and / or accessible description provided for the header using an appropriate method, such as aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby, when navigating into the header using the Down arrow key
  • Possible bug: when the title attribute is applied to the header element, JAWS does not announce the contents of this attribute when navigating into the header. Instead, it announces the contents of this attribute immediately after announcing the first word inside header. This is possibly because, in the examples used, we have nested the footer inside an article element, and this issue also arises when the title attribute is applied to the title attribute (refer to findings related to the article element for further information)
hr hr test Thematic break
  • Test HR-001: hr element:
    • - / Shift + - key navigation:

      Dash, dash, dash, separator

    • Arrow key navigation:

      separator

    • Tab key navigation:

      Not applicable

  • Test HR-002: hr element with aria-label:
    • - / Shift + - key navigation:

      aria-label contents, separator

    • Arrow key navigation:

      aria-label contents, separator

    • Tab key navigation:

      Not applicable

  • Test HR-003: hr element with tabindex="0" and aria-label:
    • - / Shift + - key navigation:

      aria-label contents, separator, min zero, max one hundred

    • Arrow key navigation:

      aria-label contents, separator

    • Tab key navigation:

      aria-label contents, separator, min zero, max one hundred
  • Move to Next Separator -
  • Move to Prior Separator Shift + -
  • If the hr element is missing an accessible name, JAWS will announce the item as "separator" when navigating through page content using the Arrow keys, or "dash, dash, dash, separator" when between separators using the - / Shift + - keys
  • If the hr element has an explicit accessible name, JAWS will announce the accessible name, followed by "separator", regardless of the way that the user navigated to the element
  • Possible bug: If the hr element includes tabindex="0", JAWS will erroneously announce "min zero, max 100" alongside the element's role and (where available) accessible name when the element receives keyboard focus
html No test Root element None expected No special commands  
i i test Alternate voice No special commands No semantics conveyed
iframe

iframe test

iframe with title test

Nested browsing context

iframe test:

 

iframe with title test:

  • List of Frames Insert + F9
  • Next Frame M
  • Previous Frame Shift+M

  • JAWS does not announce a role for the iframe when navigating into its contents using either the M / Shift + M or Down arrow keys
  • If the title attribute is present on the iframe element and is set to a non-null value, and no other attributes providing semantics are included, JAWS will announce the contents of the title attribute alongside the role and name of the first user interface element inside the embedded iframe
  • If the title attribute is not present on the iframe element, or is present and set to null (title=""), and no other attributes providing semantics are included, JAWS will only announce the role and name of the first user interface element inside the embedded iframe
  • If an iframe includes role="presentation" or role="none", JAWS will skip its contents when navigating through the page using the M / Shift + M keys, but may announce its contents when navigating through the page using the Down arrow key, as indicated below
  • If an iframe does not include a title attribute, or if the attribute is set to null (title=""), and role="none" is applied to the iframe (but not aria-roledescription=" "), JAWS will announce the contents of the title element included in the embedded HTML file (where available) when navigating into it using the Down arrow key
  • If an iframe does not include a title attribute, or if the attribute is set to null (title=""), role="none" is applied to the iframe and aria-roledescription=" " is included on the iframe, JAWS will skip the iframe entirely when the user attempts to navigate into it using the Down arrow key
img img test Image
  • List of Graphics Ctrl + Insert + G
  • Next Graphic G
  • Previous Graphic Shift + G
  • Unlike for many other HTML elements in this table, JAWS consistently announces the same content when it encounters an img element, whether via the G / Shift + G keys or via Arrow key navigation (all tests)
  • Unless the image is skipped (because, for example, it includes alt=""), JAWS will always announce the image's role ("graphic") (all tests)
  • If an img element is missing an alt attribute, JAWS will announce the image as "unlabelled" (Test IMG-002)
  • If an image has an alt attribute set to null (alt="") but also includes a non-null non-null title attribute, JAWS will announce the contents of the title attribute but will still announce the image as "unlabelled" (Test IMG-006)
  • If an img element includes both an alt attribute and an aria-label attribute, JAWS will announce the contents of the aria-label attribute, but not the contents of the alt attribute (Test IMG-003, Test IMG-004)
  • If an img element includes both an alt attribute and a title attribute, JAWS will announce the contents of both attributes together (Test IMG-005)
  • If an img element is missing an alt attribute but it includes a non-null title attribute, JAWS will announce the contents of this` attribute in lieu of the missing alt attribute (Test IMG-007); note that this behaviour occurs when a non-null aria-label attribute is included instead of a non-null title attribute
  • JAWS treats img elements that include alt attributes set to null (alt="") and alt attributes that contain whitespace (alt=" ") as decorative images, and (in the absence of any other attributes) will skip the image entirely (Test IMG-008, Test IMG-009)
  • When the contents of both the alt and title attributes are the same, JAWS will only announce the contents of one of these attributes (Test IMG-010)
  • If an img element is missing an alt attribute but it includes a title or aria-label attribute set to null (title="" or aria-label=""), JAWS will announce the image as "unlabelled"
input [button] input [button] test Button control text label "button"
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button Shift + B
 
input [checkbox] input [checkbox] test Checkbox control  text label "checkbox"
  • List Check Boxes Ctrl + Insert + X
  • Move To Next Check Box X
  • Move to Prior Check Box Shift + X
 
input [color] input [color] test Colour picker control   no special commands?
Identified as button by JAWS but not navigable using button navigation keys.
input [date] input [date] test date (day/month year) picker control    
 
input [email] input [email] test text control for inputting email address  
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
Announced as edit does not announce type of edit.
input [file] input [file] test File chooser control  
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
As it's a composite control, it can be navigated to using either button or edit commands.
input [hidden] No test hidden form control None expected No special commands No UI
input [image] input [image] test Button control  
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
 
input [number] input [number] test Spin box control

"Edit, spin box" label content

 
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
  • Increase value ↑
  • Decrease value ↓

Note: value in edit box announced as changed increase/decreased using arrow keys.

spin buttons included in button commands.

  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
input [password] input [password] test Text control for inputting a password Label content "password edit"
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
Note: keyboard character input announced as "star"
input [range] input [range] test slider control Label content "left, right slider to decrease or increase use the arrow keys" current value
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
  • → and ↑ increase the value of the slider.
  • ← and ↓ decrease the value of the slider.
  • Home and End move to the minimum and maximum values of the slider.
  • PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN increment or decrement the slider by a given amount.

Note: When slider has no accessible name (label) or is disabled or readonly, it is identified (incorrectly) as an edit box. - also depended on how it is navigated to (arrow keys, tab key or edit/form control navigation keys).

Slider value announced as it changes.
input [radio] input [radio], test single choice from a set of options "radio button checked/not checked" label content "x of y" where x = position in radio group, y = number of radio buttons in group.
  • List Radio Buttons  Ctrl + Insert + A
  • Move To Next Radio Button  A
  • Move to Prior Radio Button  Shift + A

 
input [reset] input [reset] test Button control for resetting a form  
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
 
input [search] input [search] test Text control for inputting search terms  
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
 
input [submit] input [submit] test Button control for submitting a form  
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
 
input [tel] input [tel] test text box control for inputting a phone number  
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
  
input [text] input [text] test text box control  
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
 
input [time] input [time] test Control for setting a specific time.    
 
input [url] input [url] test Text control for inputting a URL  
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
  
ins ins test An addition to the document

voice change

insertion/end insertion

Element content 		No special commands
Refer to: Scree Readers support for text level HTML semantics
kbd kbd test User input Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
label label test Caption for a form control    
 
legend legend test Caption for fieldset    
Refer to fieldset element
li ul > li test
and
ol > li test 		List item  
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous Item in a List Shift + I
 
link No test Link metadata None expected No special commands   No UI
main main test Main content of a document  
  • Move to Main Region Q
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous RegionShift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R

 
map map test Image map None expected No special commands   No UI
mark mark test Highlight Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
meta No test Text metadata None expected No special commands   No UI
meter meter test Gauge   No special commands
 
nav nav test Section with navigational links  
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region Shift + R
  • Select a Region Insert + Ctrl + R

 
noscript noscript test Fallback content for script Content of <noscript> element read if JavaScript is not available/enabled No special commands Ignored when JavaScript is enabled. Reads content rendered on screen when Javascript not enanabled
object object test Image, nested browsing context, or plugin  
  • Next Object Tag O (in < JAWS2018)
  • Previous Object Tag Shift + O (in < JAWS2018)
  • note: No navigation keys in JAWS 2018 >
 
ol ol test Ordered list  
  • List All Ordered, Unordered, and Definition Lists Ctrl + Insert + L
  • Next List L
  • Previous List Shift + I
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous item in a List Shift + I
 
optgroup optgroup test Group of options in a list box   No special commands
 
option option test Option in a list box or combo box control    
 
output output test Calculated output value    
No semantics conveyed
p p test Paragraph Element content
  • List of Paragraphs Ctrl + Insert + P
  • Next Paragraph P
  • Previous Paragraph Shift + P
No aural semantics, conveyed via navigation and paragraph list.
param (obsolete) No test Parameter for object None expected No special commands No UI
picture No test

Container offering alternative versions of an image

 None expected No special commands No UI
pre pre test Block of preformatted text Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
progress progress test Progress bar

value content, "progress bar" (if using arrow keys)

No special commands

Progress bars are not inherently focusable. But if a progress bar has a tabindex="0", then the accessible name of the progress bar will be announced on focus.

Progress bars can be navigated to via P quick key. The accessible name of the progress will be announced when focused in this manner.

q q test Quotation Element content No special commands
 
rb No test   Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
rp No test   Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
rt No test   Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
rtc No test   Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
ruby No test   Element content No special commands
 
samp samp test Computer output Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
s s test Inaccurate text Element content      
script No test Embedded script None expected No special commands No UI
section

section test

region examples

 Generic document or application section    
No semantics conveyed unless the section has an accessible name.
select select test List box control  
  • Move To Next Combo Box C
  • Move to Prior Combo Box Shift+C
  • List of Combo boxes Ctrl + Insert + C
 
small small test Side comment Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
source No test Media source for video or audio None expected No special commands No UI
span span test Generic phrasing container None expected No special commands No semantics conveyed
strong strong test Importance Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
style No test Embedded styling information None expected No special commands   No UI
sub sub test Subscript Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
summary summary test disclosure widget control/label button label text expanded/collapsed
  • List Buttons Ctrl + Insert + B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
Article How do you figure? includes JAWS support notes.
sup sup test Superscript Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
svg svg test     No special commands
 
table

table test

complex table test

Data table  
  • List Tables Ctrl + Insert + T
  • Next Table T
  • Previous Table Shift + T
  • Select Table use F8. To select an entire table, move to the line that reads, "Table with x columns and y rows," and press F8.
 
tbody tbody test Group of rows in a data table Element content No special commands   No semantics conveyed
td td test Data cell in a data table  
  • Jump to Table Cell (from within a table) Ctrl+WINDOWS Key+J
  • Return to Previous Cell Ctrl+Shift+WINDOWS Key+J
  • Read current cell Ctrl+Alt+NUM PAD 5
  • Move to and Read Next Cell Ctrl+Alt+RIGHT ARROW
  • Move to and Read Prior Cell Ctrl+Alt+LEFT ARROW
  • Move to and Read Cell Above Ctrl+Alt+↑
  • Move to and Read Cell Below Ctrl+Alt+DOWN ARROW
 
template No test Template None expected No special commands   No UI
textarea textarea test Multiline text field label(if present), role, indication if it contains text.
  • List Edit Boxes Ctrl + Insert + E
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box Shift + E
JAWS does not announce the content of a text area when navigated to. If the textarea has text in it; "Contains text" is announced. Refer to issue 42
tfoot tfoot test Group of footer rows in a data table Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
th th test Header cell in a data table    
 
thead thead test Group of header rows in a data table Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
time time test Machine-readable equivalent of date- or time-related data Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
title No test Document title Element content Read Window Title Insert + T
Semantics conveyed via navigation and announcement key stroke.
tr tr test Data table row  
  • Read Next Row WINDOWS Key+Alt+↓
  • Read Prior Row WINDOWS Key+Alt+UP ARROW
  • Read Current Row Alt+WINDOWS Key+COMMA
  • Read from Beginning of Row to Current Cell Insert + Shift + Home
  • Read from Current Cell to End of Row Insert+Shift+PAGE UP
 
track track test Timed text track Caption display control No special commands
 
u u test Keywords Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
ul ul test Unordered List  
  • List All Ordered, Unordered, and Definition Lists Ctrl + Insert + L
  • Next List L
  • Previous List Shift + I
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous item in a List Shift + I
 
var var test Variable Element content No special commands
No semantics conveyed
video video test Video Player "video" "group+accessible name" announces controls as navigated.  
 
wbr No test Line breaking opportunity None expected No special commands
No UI
Element Test Case Represents AURAL UI Interaction Semantics Conveyed Notes