Jaws HTML Support

A Work in progress: Last updated 20 May 2024.

Editors: Steve Faulkner

Github Repo: FreedomScientific/standards-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

JAWS testing - In progress

JAWS (2024 ) HTML Support (Chrome Version 121.0.6167.161 (Official Build) (64-bit) on Windows 11)
Element Test Case Represents AURAL UI Interaction Supported Notes
a

a with href test

a with no href test

With href: a hyperlink

With no href: an anchor

With href: element content "link"

With no href: element content

With href:

  • 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

With no href: no special commands

With href:

With no href:

With href:

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

  • 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."

JAWS 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.
  • 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.

With no href:

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

No special commands

JAWS can read title text associated with abbreviations on web pages.
To enable this feature, open Settings Center and expand the Web/HTML/PDFs group. Next, expand the Reading group and use the abbreviation and acronym options

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 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 Group - accessible name, start/end.
area area test Hyperlink or dead area on an image map

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

alt content, "image map" (when navigated using the tab key.
  • 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
Although area elements are links they are not conveyed as links aurally.
aria-level heading level heading levels greater than 6 not supported, all aria-level reported as h2

Issue filed: JAWS does not support aria-level on h1-h6
article article test Self-contained syndicatable or reusable composition "article" element content "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
aside aside test Sidebar for tangentially related content "Complimentary information" element content "complimentary information end"
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region SHIFT+R
  • Select a Region INSERT+CTRL+R

Included as a navigable region
audio audio test Audio player "audio" "group+accessible name" announces controls as navigated. If the audio element has a controls attribute the buttons in the UI are navigable using button commands.
 
b b test Keywords Element content No special commands
Refer to: Scree 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 "blockquote end"
  • List Block quotes CTRL+INSERT+Q
Semantics conveyed via navigation and element name announcement.
body body 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 text label "button"
  • List Buttons CTRL+INSERT+B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous 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 unecssary repetition of graphic role information.
caption caption test Table caption Element content 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 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 combo box control

"combobox, to change the selection use the arrow keys or type the value"
  • Move To Next Combo Box C
  • Move to Prior Combo Box SHIFT+C
  • List of Combo boxes CTRL+INSERT+C
 
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) from dt then dd content will not be announced.
del del test A removal from the document voice change, deletion Element content end deletion No special commands Refer to: Scree Readers support for text level HTML semantics
details details test Disclosure widget container When the details element has an accessible name it is announced along with group start/end. No special commands Refer to summary element
dfn dfn test Defining instance of a term Element content 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") dialog, accessible name if provided, accessible description if provided. 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.
div div test Generic flow container Element content
  • Move to Next Division Z
  • Move to Prior Division SHIFT+Z
  • List Divisions CTRL+INSERT+Z
No semantics conveyed
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
 
dt dt test Legend for corresponding dd element(s) Element content
  • Next Item in a List I
  • Previous 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: Scree Readers support for text level HTML semantics
embed embed test Plugins    
 
fieldset fieldset test Group of form controls "Group start" legend content ... "Group end" 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 Element content No special commands
 
figure figure test Figure with optional caption "Figure start" figcaption content, element content, figcaption content "Figure end" No special commands
 
footer footer test Footer for a page or section "Content information" element content "content information end"
  • Move to Next Region  R
  • Move to Previous Region SHIFT+R
  • Select a Region INSERT+CTRL+R

 
form form test User-submittable form With accessible name announced as accessible name, form, element content. accessible name, form end.

Without accessible name: ignored.

With accessible name:

  • 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
 
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" element content "banner end"
  • Move to Next Region R
  • Move to Previous Region SHIFT+R
  • Select a Region INSERT+CTRL+R

 
hr hr test Thematic break "separator"
  • Move to Next Separator DASH
  • Move to Prior Separator SHIFT+DASH
 
html No test Root element None expected No special commands  
i i test Alternate voice Element content No special commands No semantics conveyed
iframe

iframe test

iframe with title test

Nested browsing context  
  • List of Frames INSERT+F9
  • Next Frame M
  • Previous Frame SHIFT+M

 
img img test Image "graphic" alt attribute content
  • List of Graphics CTRL+INSERT+G
  • Next Graphic G
  • Previous Graphic SHIFT+G
 
input [button] input [button] test Button control  
  • List Buttons CTRL+INSERT+B
  • Next Button B
  • Previous button B
 
input [checkbox] input [checkbox] test Checkbox control  
  • 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
 
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 UP ARROW
  • Decrease value DOWN ARROW

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
  • RIGHT ARROW and UP ARROW increase the value of the slider.
  • LEFT ARROW and DOWN ARROW 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 No test Fallback content for script None expected      
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   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+UP ARROW
  • 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+DOWN ARROW
  • 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