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

for

From: Sailesh Panchang
Date: Nov 19, 2012 8:09AM

Zoe,
Certainly I have seen that behavior where the screen reader reads the
off-screen label as one is arrowing down the page.
But then one is reading content that is not visually available on the
page and in that mode the label is really not programmatically
associated with the form control.
The user has to use his/her understanding / judgment to make this determination.
Off-screen text that helps to convey structure / info-relationships
(e.g. headings) when no other cues are available is alright but
otherwise visual content should generally match / be in sync with
screen reader output.

In forms mode, the title clearly conveys the purpose of the control.
This technique is in line withH65 of WCAG 2 techniques.

Thanks,
Sailesh Panchang
www.deque.com
Tel 703-225-0380 ext 105


On 11/19/12, 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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