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Re: using title attribute as form field label

for

From: Jared Smith
Date: Nov 8, 2011 8:57AM

I have several concerns over the use of the title attribute value for
labeling controls:

- It shouldn't be used if a visible text label is present on the page.
<label> should be used instead - it works in old browsers, and also
provides enhanced mouse accessibility, primarily for users with motor
disabilities.

- As defined in the HTML spec, title attribute is for "advisory
information". If a form field is inaccessible without the title
attribute value, this sure sounds like more than "advisory
information".

- There's nothing in HTML or accessibility specifications that tell AT
to use the title attribute as a label replacement. They just happen to
do this on their own. This behavior is really no different than IE
showing alt text in tooltips which everyone railed against as being a
violation of the spec. It makes me uncomfortable relying on the
non-standard quirks of screen readers for accessibility. As has been
noted, different screen readers treat the presentation of title
differently - and understandably so because a standard behavior is not
documented anywhere because the attribute is not even intended to work
this way.


With all of this said, it works relatively well. It just makes me
squirm a little bit. I tend to use off-screen <label> to ensure
accessibility in these situations.

Jared