Accessibility specialists

NVDA HTML Support

A Work in progress: Last updated 25 April 2025.

Editors: Steve Faulkner, Gez Lemon

GitHub Repo: screen-reader-HTML-support

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How HTML elements are supported by screen readers

Typical support patterns of HTML elements by screen readers:

Note: The combination of patterns supported varies from element to element and support for a particular element varies between screen reader software.

Support legend

NVDA (2024 ) HTML Support - Chrome Version 129.0.6668.90 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Element Test Case Represents Aural UI Interaction Supported Notes
a a with href test A hyperlink Element content + "link"
  • List Links INSERT+F7
  • Next Link K
  • Prior Link SHIFT+K
  • Next Visited V
  • Prior Visited Link SHIFT+V
  • Next Unvisited LinkU
  • Prior Unvisited LinkSHIFT+U
  • Open Link ENTER
  • Open Link in New Window SHIFT+ENTER

Link role announced before link text when cursored to, after via tab.

NVDA announces the type of link as follows:

  • 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.
a without href a with no href test An anchor Announces as plain text No special commands Treated as regular text without any link functionality.
abbr abbr test An abbreviation Element content

No special commands

No semantics conveyed by default

Note that expansions are not announced by NVDA 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 Element content when no accessible name present. No special commands

no accessible name

With accessible name

With accessible name address is announced as a group - accessible name grouping, followed by the content.
area area test Hyperlink or dead area on an image map

alt content, "graphic link" (when navigated using the arrow keys).

alt content, "graphic" (when navigated using the TAB key or the link navigation keys).
  • List Links INSERT+F7
  • Next Link K
  • Prior Link SHIFT+K
  • Next Visited V
  • Prior Visited Link SHIFT+V
  • Next Unvisited LinkU
  • Prior Unvisited LinkSHIFT+U
  • Open Link ENTER
  • Open Link in New Window SHIFT+ENTER
 Although area elements are links, they are not conveyed as links aurally when navigated to using the TAB key.
aria-level h7-h10 (role="heading"+aria-level=7-10) Hierarchical level of an element in a structure Announced as "level" followed by the level number specified No special interaction Recognized as a hierarchical level
article article test Self-contained syndicatable or reusable composition Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
aside aside test Sidebar for tangentially related content "Complimentary information" element content "complimentary information end"
  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
 Recognized as a landmark region
audio audio test Audio player The accessible name is announced if provided. Does not announce audio. If the audio element has a controls attribute the buttons in the UI are navigable using button commands. Buttons in the audio player are accessible.
b b test Keywords Element content 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 Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
bdo bdo test Text directionality formatting Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
blockquote blockquote test A section quoted from another source "Blockquote" element content
  • Next blockquote Q
  • Prior blockquote SHIFT+Q
 Semantics conveyed via navigation and element name announcement.
body body test Document body Element content No special commands No special semantics conveyed.
br br test Line break, e.g. in poem or postal address   No special commands Line break
button button test Button control text label "button"
  • List buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Prior button B
 Semantics conveyed via navigation and element name announcement
canvas canvas test Scriptable bitmap canvas "graphic" element content 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 Element content No special commands Announced when a table is navigated to.
cite cite test Reference to a creative work Element content No special commands

No semantics conveyed or expected as <cite> has a role="generic"
code code test Computer code Element content 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 None expected No special commands  
data data test Machine-readable equivalent Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed or expected as <data> has a role="generic"
datalist datalist test Container for options for combobox control Element name "combobox, has autocomplete"
  • Move To Next Combo Box C
  • Move to Prior Combo Box SHIFT+C
  • List of form controls INSERT+F7
  
dd dd test Content for corresponding dt element(s) Element content 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) only the dt elements will be announced.
del del test A removal from the document Announces, "Deleted" Element content No special commands Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
details details test Disclosure widget container Content name "button", followed by the state ("Expanded" or "Collapsed"). No special commands The updated state is announced when the user activates the button. Refer to summary element
dfn dfn test Defining instance of a term Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed.
dialog dialog test The dialog element represents a transitory part of an application, in the form of a small window ("dialog box") dialog, accessible name if provided, accessible description if provided. When the dialog opens focus is moved to first focusable element. The 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.
div div test Generic flow container Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
dl dl test Association list consisting of zero or more name-value groups Announced as "List with [n] items" followed by the first list item. The number of elements is the total <dt> and <dd> elements combined.
  • Next List L
  • Prior List SHIFT+I
  • Next item in a List I
  • Prior item in a List SHIFT+I
 Navigating using I and Shift+I in a description list moves between the <dt> elements. Arrow keys are required to read the content in the <dd> element.
dt dt test Legend for corresponding dd element(s) Element content
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Prior Item in a List SHIFT+I
 Identified as a list item
em em test Stress emphasis Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed. Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
embed embed test Plugins If recognised as a frame, announced as "Frame" followed by the accessible name if provided using the title attribute. No indication of the element if not recognised as a frame. If recognised as a frame:
  • Next Frame M
  • Prior Frame SHIFT+M
 Firefox exposes the <embed> element as a frame. Chrome sometimes exposes the <embed> element as a frame, depending on the content. Depending on the content type, embedding content using <img>, <video>, <audio>, or <iframe> elements is preferable over the <embed> element.
fieldset fieldset test Group of form controls "Grouping" followed by legend content when using arrow keys to navigate to the element. Legend content followed by "grouping" when navigating into a form control in the fieldset. 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. Only when fieldset has an accessible name via legend or other method.
figcaption figcaption test Caption for figure Announced as, "Figure caption" Element content No special commands  
figure figure test Figure with optional caption Announced as "Figure" if the element has an accessible name or contains a <figcaption> element. No special commands "Figure" is not announced if the element does not have an accessible name or contain a <figcaption> element.
footer footer test Footer for a page or section "Content info landmark" element content
  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
 The <footer> element is not exposed if used in an <article> element.
form form test User-submittable form With accessible name announced as accessible name, form, element content

Without accessible name: ignored.

With accessible name:

  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
 No semantics conveyed unless form has an accessible name, then exposed as a landmark.
h1 - h6 h1 - h6 test Section heading Announced as, heading content "heading, level" 1 to 6
  • List all headings INSERT+F7
  • Next Heading H
  • Prior Heading SHIFT+H
  • Next Heading at Level - number keys 1 through 6
  • Prior Heading at Level SHIFT+1 through 6
 Identifies heading level and text.
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 "Banner landmark" element content
  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
 The <header> element is not exposed if used in an <article> element.
hr hr test Thematic break Announced as, "Separator" No special command Provides a clear aural indication.
html No test Root element None expected No special commands No semantics expected.
i i test Alternate voice Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed.
iframe Nested browsing context Announced as title attribute value if provided, followed by "frame"
  • Next Frame M
  • Prior Frame SHIFT+M
 
img img test Image
  • If navigated to using graphic shortcut key, announced as alt attribute content "graphic"
  • If navigated to using arrow key, announced as "graphic" alt attribute content
  • Next Graphic G
  • Previous Graphic SHIFT+G
 Reads alt attribute content if present.
input [button] input [button] test Button control Announced as Label content "button"
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous Button B
  
input [checkbox] input [checkbox] test Checkbox control Announced as, Label content "checkbox" followed by checked/unchecked state
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Check Box X
  • Move to Prior Check Box SHIFT+X
  
input [color] input [color] test Colour picker control Announced as Label content "button" in Firefox. Announced as rgb colour values without an accessible name in Chrome. No special commands with Chrome. In Firefox:
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous Button B
 The colour buttons in the colour dialog do not have an accessible name in Firefox.
input [date] input [date] test date (day/month year) picker control Announced as Label content "edit", then "day spin button".
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous Button B
 The Chrome data picker dialog does not provide context for the dates. They are announced as numbers. Context is provided using Firefox, such as the day name and month when it changes.
input [email] input [email] test text control for inputting email address Announced as Label content "edit"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
 Treated as a regular text input.
input [file] input [file] test File chooser control Announced as Label content file name if selected, otherwise no file chosen, "button"
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
  
input [hidden] No test hidden form control None expected No special commands No UI
input [image] input [image] test Button control Announced as Label content "button"
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
  
input [number] input [number] test Spin box control Label content "Edit, spin button"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
  • Increase value UP ARROW
  • Decrease value DOWN ARROW
 Note: value in edit box announced as changed increase/decreased using arrow keys.
input [password] input [password] test Text control for inputting a password Label content "edit protected"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • 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 "slider" current value No special commands to reach the range sliders.
  • RIGHT ARROW and UP ARROW increase the value of the slider
  • LEFT ARROW and DOWN ARROW decrease the value of the slider

Note: The slider cannot be adjusted using the HOME, END, PAGE UP, and PAGE DOWN keys when NVDA is running.

Slider value announced as it changes.
input [radio] input [radio], test single choice from a set of options label content "radio button checked/not checked" "x of y" where x = position in radio group, y = number of radio buttons in the group
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Radio Button R
  • Move to Prior Radio Button SHIFT+R
  
input [reset] input [reset] test Button control for resetting a form  
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
  
input [search] input [search] test Text control for inputting search terms label content "edit"
  • List Edit Boxes INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
 Treated as a regular text input.
input [submit] input [submit] test Button control for submitting a form label content "button"
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
  
input [tel] input [tel] test text box control for inputting a phone number label content "edit"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
  
input [text] input [text] test text box control label content "edit"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
  
input [time] input [time] test Control for setting a specific time. label content "grouping" followed by label content "hour spin button" current value Navigable using NVDA button keystrokes in Chrome:
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Button B
  • Move to Prior Button SHIFT+B
Navigable using NVDA button keystrokes in Firefox:
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
 Navigable using NVDA button keystrokes in Chrome and navigable using NVDA button keystrokes in Firefox
input [url] input [url] test Text control for inputting a URL label content "edit"
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
  
ins ins test An addition to the document "Inserted" Element content No special commands Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
kbd kbd test Represents user input Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
label label test Caption for a form control Label content announced when the corresponding form control has focus No special commands  
legend legend test Caption for fieldset Legend content is announced as the group label for a group of related controls when one of the controls is first focused in the group. No special commands Serves as the group label for a group of form controls. Refer to the fieldset element
li List item  
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Prior 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 Next Region D
  • Move to Prior RegionSHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
  
map map test Image map None expected No special commands No UI
mark mark test Highlight "Highlighted" Element content "out of highlighted" No special commands  
meta No test Text metadata None expected No special commands No UI
meter meter test Gauge Accessible name "progress bar" followed by the value No special commands
  • If fallback content is used in the <meta> element, the fallback content is announced instead of the value by NVDA in Firefox. The fallback content is not announced using NVDA in Chrome.
  • If the <meta> element is labelled using the aria-labelledby attribute, the value is not announced by NVDA in Chrome and Firefox.
nav nav test Section with navigational links Accessible name "landmark region"
  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
  
noscript No test Fallback content for script Content of <noscript> element read if JavaScript is not available/enabled No special commands Ignored when JavaScript is enabled.
object object test Image, nested browsing context, or plugin Depends on embedded content
  • Next Object O
  • Prior Object SHIFT+O
 Support varies depending on object type.
ol ol test Ordered list "List with [n] items" followed by the first list item
  • Next List L
  • Previous List SHIFT+I
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous item in a List SHIFT+I
 Announces the numerical or alphabetical value for each list item.
optgroup optgroup test Group of options in a list box Label content "grouping" No special commands The list needs to be expanded in order for the grouping information to be announced. Use ALT followed by DOWN ARROW key to expand the list.
option option test Option in a list box or combo box control Option content x of y; where x = position in list, y = number of items in the list Navigable using UP/DOWN arrow keys Use ALT followed by DOWN ARROW key to expand the list.
output output test Calculated output value Reads output value No special commands No semantics conveyed
p p test Paragraph Element content
  • Next Paragraph P
  • Prior Paragraph SHIFT+P
 No aural semantics.
param (obsolete) No test Parameter for object None expected No special commands No UI
picture No test Container to offer alternative versions of an image for different scenarios. 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
  • NVDA beeps as the value of the progress bar is updated with an ever increasing pitch as the value increases
  • Accessible name, "progress bar", value (if using arrow keys)
No special commands Progress bars are not inherently focusable. But if a progress bar has tabindex="0", then the accessible name of the progress bar will be announced on focus.
q q test Quotation Element content No special commands  
rb No test Ruby base element Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
rp No test Fallback parenthesis for browsers that don't support Ruby Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
rt No test Represents an annotation Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
rtc No test Ruby text container Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
ruby No test Shows pronunciation Element content No special commands  
s s test Inaccurate text "Deleted" Element content No special commands  
samp samp test Computer output Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
script No test Embedded script None expected No special commands No UI
section Generic document or application section Announces "region" if labelled If labelled, treated as a landmark:
  • Move to Next Region D
  • Move to Prior Region SHIFT+D
  • List Landmark Regions INSERT+F7
 No semantics conveyed unless the section has an accessible name.
select select test Combo box Accessible name "combo box"
  • Move To Next Combo Box C
  • Move to Prior Combo Box SHIFT+C
  • List of Form Controls INSERT+F7
 Provides list of options, recognizes optgroup.
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 Element content 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 Label text "button" expanded/collapsed
  • List Buttons INSERT+F7
  • Next Button B
  • Prior button B
 Serves as a trigger for expanding/collapsing <details> section.
sup sup test Superscript Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
svg svg test Scalable Vector Graphics Accessible name "Graphic" if labelled In Chrome or Firefox with role="img":
  • Next Graphic G
  • Previous Graphic SHIFT+G
 The <svg> element is ignored in Firefox, unless it has role="img" and labelled.
table Data table Announced as, "table with X rows and Y columns"
  • Next Table T
  • Prior Table SHIFT+T
  
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 Announces Cell content
  • 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+UP ARROW
  • Move to and Read Cell Below CTRL+ALT+DOWN ARROW
 Announces corresponding header if programmatically associated.
template No test Template None expected No special commands No UI
textarea textarea test Multiline text field Accessible name "edit", followed by the value if there is any text in the edit field
  • List Form Controls INSERT+F7
  • Move To Next Edit Box E
  • Move to Prior Edit Box SHIFT+E
  
tfoot tfoot test Group of footer rows in a data table   No special commands No semantics conveyed
th th test Header cell in a data table Element content No special command. Reachable using standard table cell reading keystrokes.  
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   No special commands  
track track test Timed text track Caption display control No special commands  
u u test Underlined text Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
ul ul test Unordered List List with n items
  • Next List L
  • Prior List SHIFT+L
  
var var test Represents a variable Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
video video test Video Player Announces individual controls No special commands  
wbr No test Line breaking opportunity None expected No special commands No UI