Accessibility specialists

TalkBack HTML Support

A Work in progress: Last updated 15 September 2025.

Editors: Gez Lemon, Catriona Morrison, Steve Faulkner

GitHub Repo: screen-reader-HTML-support

Found a bug? Please report it.

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

TalkBack on Android HTML Support Table

TalkBack on Android (2025) HTML Support - Chrome Version 137.0.7151.115
Element Test Case Represents AURAL UI Interaction Supported Notes
a a with href test A hyperlink Element content + "link double-tap to activate"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Links" to navigate by links. When this option is chosen:

  • Next Link Swipe down
  • Previous Link Swipe up

TalkBack announces the type of link as follows:

  • Link: This indicates a link that has not been visited.
  • Link Visited: 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 Ignored by TalkBack No special interactions Treated as regular text without any link functionality.
abbr abbr test An abbreviation Value provided by the title attribute

No special interactions

No semantics conveyed by default

The value of the title attribute is announced instead of the screen text. If the aria-label attribute is used along with the title attribute, the aria-label text is announced followed by the value provided using the title attribute. Note 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. No special interactions No specific emphasis conveyed. Accessible description announced when a valid aria-describedby attribute is present.
area area test Hyperlink or dead area on an image map alt content, "link"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Links" to navigate by links. When this option is chosen:

  • Next Link Swipe down
  • Prior Link Swipe up
 Recognized as a link.
aria-level APG File Directory test Hierarchical level of an element in a structure Announced as "level" followed by the level number specified on headings No special interaction The level is only communicated when used on headings. It is not supported on listitem, treeitem, and row elements.
article article test Self-contained syndicatable or reusable composition Element content, "article" No special interaction Recognized as an article landmark region. Labelling techniques not supported.
aside aside test Sidebar for tangentially related content element content, "complimentary No special interaction Recognized as a complimentary landmark region. aria-label supported, but no other labelling techniques supported.
audio audio test Audio player Not announced

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen and the <audio> element has a controls attribute:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Nothing announced when the <audio> element has focus unless an aria-describedby is used. Buttons in the audio player are accessible.
b b test Text bolded for utilitarian purposes Element content No special interaction No change in voice, but the bold text is announced separately from the non-bold text. 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 interaction No UI
bdi bdi test Text directionality isolation Element content No special interaction No aural impact; structure-only element.
bdo bdo test Text directionality formatting Element content No special interaction No special semantics conveyed. Reads text correctly regardless of direction.
blockquote blockquote test A section quoted from another source Element content, "blockquote" No special interaction Content announced followed by, "blockquote".
body body test Document body Element content No special interaction No special semantics conveyed.
br br test Line break, e.g. in poem or postal address   No special interaction Line break
button button test Button control text label, "button"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Semantics conveyed via navigation and element name announcement. When the button has aria-pressed announces "toggle button, double tap to toggle".
canvas canvas test Scriptable bitmap canvas Element content No special interaction 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.
caption caption test Table caption Element content No special interaction Announced when a table is navigated to.
cite cite test Reference to a creative work Element content No special interaction

No semantics conveyed or expected as <cite> has a role="generic"
code code test Computer code Element content No special interaction

No semantics conveyed or expected as <code> currently has a role="generic"
col No test Table column None expected No special interaction No semantics conveyed
colgroup colgroup test Group of columns in a table None expected No special interaction  
data data test Machine-readable equivalent Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed or expected as <data> has a role="generic"
datalist datalist test Container for options for combobox control "Edit box" Element name

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 TalkBack does not indicate options are available. When the edit field is activated, the data list options are included at the top of the onscreen keyboard and discoverable by explore-by-touch.
dd dd test Content for corresponding dt element(s) Element content, "definition" No special interaction TalkBack announces "Term" and "Definition" after the element content in a description list.
del del test A removal from the document Element content, "deletion" No special interaction Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
details details test Disclosure widget container Announces state ("Expanded" or "Collapsed") Content name "disclosure triangle" No special interaction 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, "term" No special interaction  
dialog dialog test The dialog element represents a transitory part of an application, in the form of a small window ("dialog box") Accessible name 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.

If provided, the accessible description is not announced.

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 interactions No semantics conveyed
dl dl test Association list consisting of zero or more name-value groups Element content, "term" or "definition" No special interaction TalkBack announces "Term" and "Definition" after the element content in a description list.
dt dt test Legend for corresponding dd element(s) Element content, "term" No special interaction TalkBack announces "Term" and "Definition" after the element content in a description list.
em em test Stress emphasis Element content No special interaction Uses intonation to convey emphasis. Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
embed embed test Plugins "Object" No special interaction 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 "In group" Element content No special interaction  
figcaption figcaption test Caption for figure Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed.
figure figure test Figure with optional caption Only image content announced No special interaction The figure semantics are not conveyed. The image is announced using the file name even when the image has an appropriate alt attribute.
footer footer test Footer for a page or section element content No special interaction The <footer> semantics are not conveyed, but the content in the footer is readable.
form form test User-submittable form element content

There is no specific gesture to navigate to forms, but the generic gesture for form controls can be used. Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 No semantics conveyed. If the form has an accessible name, the accessible name is not announced by TalkBack.
h1 - h6 h1 - h6 test Section heading Announced as, heading content "heading" 1 to 6

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Headings" to navigate by headings. When this option is chosen:

  • Next heading Swipe down
  • Prior heading Swipe up
 Identifies heading level and text.
head No test Container for document metadata None expected No special interactions No UI
header header test Introductory or navigational aids for a page or section element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed. If the <header> has an accessible name, the accessible name is not announced by TalkBack.
hr hr test Thematic break Announced as, "Splitter" if it has an accessible name No special command Ignored unless the <hr> element has an accessible name.
html No test Root element None expected No special interactions No semantics expected.
i i test Alternate voice Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed. Treated as a separate item in TalkBack's swipe order, unless CSS font-style: normal is used.
iframe Nested browsing context Announced as title attribute value if provided, otherwise just element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed, but if the <iframe> element has a title attribute, the iframe is included in TalkBack's swipe order, and the value of the title is announced without the role of "frame".
img img test Image Announced as alt attribute content "graphic"

If added to the TalkBack navigation menu, in one motion, swipe down then right to open the TalkBack menu. Under navigation, navigate to "Images and videos" to navigate by images. When this option is chosen:

  • Next image Swipe down
  • Prior image Swipe up
  • Reads alt attribute content if present. Announces, "This image isn't labelled" if the alt attribute is missing and no other labelling technique is used.
  • Images and videos needs to be added to the TalkBack navigation menu before it is accessible. This can be added to the navigation menu in Customise TalkBack menu, under Customise menu
input [button] input [button] test Button control Announced as Label content "button"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [checkbox] input [checkbox] test Checkbox control Announced as, checked/unchecked state Label content "checkbox"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [color] input [color] test Colour picker control Announced as RGB colour values without an accessible name

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 The colour picker dialog exposes the correct roles, names, and values, but it is not possible to give the button to launch the dialog an accessible name. It is announced by the currently selected hex value. For example, "#FFCC00 color picker"
input [date] input [date] test date (day/month year) picker control Announced as "date picker" Label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 The date picker dialog exposes the correct roles, names, and values.
input [email] input [email] test text control for inputting email address Announced as value (if provided) "edit box" Label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Treated as a regular text input.
input [file] input [file] test File chooser control Announced as file name "button" Label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
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"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [number] input [number] test Spin box control value Label content "spin button"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Note: value in edit box is not announced when changed increase/decreased using arrow keys.
input [password] input [password] test Text control for inputting a password "Password edit box" Label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Note: keyboard character input announced as the number then "bullet replaced" number. For example, "2 bullet replaced 2"
input [range] input [range] test slider control Current value Label content "slider swipe or swipe down to adjust

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Slider value announced as it changes.
input [radio] input [radio], test single choice from a set of options Checked/not checked "in group option x of y" label content "radio button" where x = position in radio group, y = number of radio buttons in the group

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [reset] input [reset] test Button control for resetting a form Label content/"Reset" "button"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 If the button is not given an explicit accessible name, it has a default name of "Reset".
input [search] input [search] test Text control for inputting search terms "Search text field" label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 If an accessible name is not provided, it is announced as, "Search text field".
input [submit] input [submit] test Button control for submitting a form label content "button"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [tel] input [tel] test text box control for inputting a phone number "Edit box" label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [text] input [text] test text box control "Edit box" label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [time] input [time] test Control for setting a specific time. Currently selected time "Time picker" label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
input [url] input [url] test Text control for inputting a URL "Edit box" label content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  
ins ins test An addition to the document Element content "insertion" No special interactions Refer to: Screen Readers support for text level HTML semantics
kbd kbd test Represents user input Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
label label test Caption for a form control Label content announced when the corresponding form control has focus No special interactions  
legend legend test Caption for fieldset Legend content is announced when the legend has focus. No special interactions Although the legend serves as the group label for a group of form controls, it is not announced when the first element in the group has focus.
li List item Element content followed by grouping information, such as "1 of X" No special interactions The bullet is included in TalkBack's swipe order with unordered lists, and the numeral is included in TalkBack's swipe order with ordered lists.
link No test Link metadata None expected No special interactions   No UI
main main test Main content of a document   No special interactions No semantics conveyed. If the <main> element has an accessible name, the accessible name is not announced by TalkBack.
map map test Image map None expected No special interactions No UI
mark mark test Highlight Element content "highlight" No special interactions  
meta No test Text metadata None expected No special interactions No UI
meter meter test Gauge Value Accessible name "meter" No special interactions  
nav nav test Section with navigational links Accessible name "landmark region" No special interactions No semantics conveyed. If the <nav> element has an accessible name, the accessible name is not announced by TalkBack.
noscript No test Fallback content for script Content of <noscript> element read if JavaScript is not available/enabled No special interactions Ignored when JavaScript is enabled.
object object test Image, nested browsing context, or plugin Depends on embedded content No special interactions Support varies depending on object type.
ol ol test Ordered list The list items are announced with grouping information, such as "1 of X". No special interactions The list itself is not included in TalkBack's swipe order; only the list items have focus.
optgroup optgroup test Group of options in a list box Label content No special interactions The <optgroup> label text is announced without the grouping context.
option option test Option in a list box or combo box control "Selected" checked state Option content No special interactions The grouping information is not announced.
output output test Calculated output value Reads output value No special interactions No semantics conveyed.
p p test Paragraph Element content

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Paragraphs" to navigate by paragraphs. When this option is chosen:

  • Next paragraph Swipe down
  • Prior paragraph Swipe up
 No aural semantics.
param (obsolete) No test Parameter for object None expected No special interactions No UI
picture No test Container to offer alternative versions of an image for different scenarios. None expected No special interactions No UI
pre pre test Block of preformatted text Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
progress progress test Progress bar TalkBack will announce the value and then beeps to indicate progress if the progress bar has focus No special interactions The progress update is not announced by TalkBack unless the progress bar has focus.
q q test Quotation Element content No special interactions  
rb No test Ruby base element Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
rp No test Fallback parenthesis for browsers that don't support Ruby Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
rt No test Represents an annotation Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
rtc No test Ruby text container Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
ruby No test Shows pronunciation Element content No special interactions  
s s test Inaccurate text Element content "deletion" No special interactions  
samp samp test Computer output Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
script No test Embedded script None expected No special interactions No UI
section Generic document or application section Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed, even if the section has an accessible name.
select select test Combo box "Collapsed" current value "menu popup button" accessible name

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Provides list of options.
small small test Side comment Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
source No test Media source for video or audio None expected No special interactions No UI
span span test Generic inline container Reads content as normal text No special interactions No semantics conveyed
strong strong test Importance Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
style No test Embedded styling information None expected No special interactions No UI
sub sub test Subscript Element content No special interactions No semantics conveyed
summary summary test disclosure widget control/label Announced as "collapsed/expanded", label content, "disclosure triangle"

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
  • Announces "double-tap to activate"
  • Serves as a trigger for expanding/collapsing <details> section.
sup sup test Superscript Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
svg svg test Scalable Vector Graphics
  • Announced as label content, "graphic" if an accessible name is provided
  • TalkBack announces role="graphic-object", role="graphics-document" and role="graphics-symbol" as their respective roles

If added to the TalkBack navigation menu, in one motion, swipe down then right to open the TalkBack menu. Under navigation, navigate to "Images and videos" to navigate by images. When this option is chosen:

  • Next image Swipe down
  • Prior image Swipe up
  • The <svg> element is ignored by TalkBack, unless it has an accessible name or role="img".
  • If Images and videos is added to the navigation menu, unlabelled <svg> elements are recognised as images and are announced as "Unlabelled, graphic"
table Data table Announces as caption content, "In table", caption content "X rows. Y columns"

When in a table, use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Rows and columns" to navigate by rows and columns. When this option is chosen:

  • Next row Swipe down
  • Prior row Swipe up
  • Next column Swipe right
  • Prior column Swipe left
 Provides structured navigation through rows/columns. Recognizes row/column headers and cell content.
tbody tbody test Group of rows in a data table Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
td td test Data cell in a data table Announces cell content, "Row X. Column Y."

When in a table, use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Rows and columns" to navigate by rows and columns. When this option is chosen:

  • Next row Swipe down
  • Prior row Swipe up
  • Next column Swipe right
  • Prior column Swipe left
 Announces row and column number of the cell.
template No test Template None expected No special interaction No UI
textarea textarea test Multiline text field Announces as the value of any text in the edit field, "Edit box", label content, if present

Use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Controls" to navigate by controls. When this option is chosen:

  • Next control Swipe down
  • Prior control Swipe up
 Announces "double-tap to edit text"
tfoot tfoot test Group of footer rows in a data table Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
th th test Header cell in a data table Announces as cell content, "column/row header"

When in a table, use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Rows and columns" to navigate by rows and columns. When this option is chosen:

  • Next row Swipe down
  • Prior row Swipe up
  • Next column Swipe right
  • Prior column Swipe left
 TalkBack recognises row/column headers
thead thead test Group of header rows in a data table Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
time time test Machine-readable equivalent of date- or time-related data
  • Element content
  • If an aria-label or aria-labelledby is present, this is announced instead of the content within the time element
 No special interaction No semantics conveyed
title No test Document title Announces when the page loads as title content, "Web view" No special interactions Announced when the page/tab gains focus.
tr tr test Data table row When navigating by rows and columns, announces as element content, row header content

When in a table, use three-finger swipe to scroll through the navigate by options to reach "Rows and columns" to navigate by rows and columns. When this option is chosen:

  • Next row Swipe down
  • Prior row Swipe up
  • Next column Swipe right
  • Prior column Swipe left
 Recognises row header, if present
track track test Timed text track Announces current text track content when focused with TalkBack No special interaction No semantics conveyed
u u test Underlined text Element content No special interaction No semantics conveyed
ul ul test Unordered List Announces as "Bullet, 1 of X, X items" when first list item is focused. The following list items are announced with grouping information, such as "1 of X". No special interactions The list itself is not included in TalkBack's swipe order; only the list items have focus.
var var test Represents a variable
  • Element content
  • If an aria-label or aria-labelledby is present, this is announced instead of the content within the var element
 No special interaction No semantics conveyed
video video test Video Player Announces as label content, "video" when focused. The individual controls then follow in the swipe order.

Double-tap to play or pause the video file

If added to the TalkBack navigation menu, in one motion, swipe down then right to open the TalkBack menu. Under navigation, navigate to "Images and videos" to navigate by videos. When this option is chosen:

  • Next video Swipe down
  • Prior video Swipe up
  • Images and videos needs to be added to the TalkBack navigation menu before it is accessible. This can be added to the navigation menu in Customise TalkBack menu, under Customise menu
  • Double-tap to play or pause is not announced when the video element is focused
wbr No test Line breaking opportunity None expected No special interaction No UI