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Re: Is use of <label> and title redundant?

for

From: Steve Faulkner
Date: Nov 19, 2012 6:59AM

Hi Zoe,

When a control lacks another form of explicit labelling, the title
attribute content is mapped to the accessible name for the control. This is
consistent across plaforms and accessibility APIs, this has been the case
for a long time and is the standardized behaviour [1].

While we should take into account the bugs in AT when newer technologies
are used (example ARIA), we should be filing bugs against those AT/browsers
that do not follow the standards as trying to code to take into account
bugs in every AT that do not make use of the accessibility information
exposed in a standardized/agreed way is a losing proposition.


[1] http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/html-api-map/raw-file/tip/Overview.html#calc

regards
SteveF

On 19 November 2012 13:41, GILLENWATER, ZOE M < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi Sailesh,
>
> One advantage for hidden labels that I've found when testing the
> difference between them and title attributes on form fields is that a few
> screen reader-browser combinations will not read the title text in normal
> reading mode, only when focused in the form field. The hidden label always
> gets read in both normal and forms reading modes. This seems non-trivial to
> me, as hearing label-less form fields announced would be confusing and
> doesn't give you the information you need to be able to decide whether you
> want to go into forms reading mode. Have you never seen this behavior with
> title text in normal reading mode?
>
> I've even seen cases where not only is the title text not announced in
> normal reading mode, but the type of form field is not announced, so you
> have no idea anything is even there to enter forms mode for. Granted, this
> has only happened to me in older screen readers, but still, it's a pretty
> big problem. Again, this is just in normal reading mode--I've had no
> problems with title text in forms reading mode. But because of this, using
> regular old labels seems far safer in many contexts. Title text has its
> place too, but I'm starting to think that hidden labels should be the
> technique of first resort (apart from adding visible labels whenever
> possible, of course!).
>
> I'd love to hear differing opinions on this! :-)
>
> Thanks,
> Zoe
>
> Zoe Gillenwater
> Web Accessibility Technical Architect
> AT&T Consumer Digital Experience
>
> o: 919-241-4083
> e: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
> 4625 Creekstone Dr | Durham, NC 27703
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