WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: th scope=row

for

From: Jonathan Avila
Date: Apr 7, 2016 6:49AM

> basically states that scope="row" or scope="col" is required on cells if they are not in the first column/row of a table

I agree with Birkir and have also cited this technique as reference to why WCAG does not require scope on th elements when they are in the first row or column. I know some experts in the field are failing TH without scope when the TH is in the first column or row.

Also, I would say that not all tables need row headers at all. That is a row header is only needed as when you say that cell labels the other content in the row. If there is no one cell that is proper for acting a header then it would seem then the table doesn't have row headers. Take for example a table with address, city, state, and zip as columns -- no one cell acts as a row header for the others and thus no row header is needed or should be provided.

Jonathan

Jonathan Avila
Chief Accessibility Officer
SSB BART Group
<EMAIL REMOVED>
703.637.8957 (Office)
Visit us online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Blog
Check out our Digital Accessibility Webinars!

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 2:04 PM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED> ; WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] th scope=row

Technique H63:
https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H63.html
basically states that scope="row" or scope="col" is required on cells if they are not in the first column/row of a table (see note 1 about simple data tables).
They re also required when header cells span multiple columns/rows, but that is a whole other kettle of peskiterrian delights we should not go into on this thread unless it is relevant.

WCAG Techniques are not normative, but this one fits best with my experience accessibility testing and it seems logical.
If you designate all cels in the second column as row headers, you kind of need to use scope="row" to tell assistive technologies that.
Keep in mind that any cell(s) to the left of the row header cells will not be associated with them, at least a.t. does not communicate that info.

-B


On 4/6/16, Chagnon | PubCom < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Birkir wrote: "I approach this more based on content than WCAG criteria.
> I ask myself, "do I need to know the value of the leftmost cell in
> this row (or any cell), in order to fully understand the cell I am looking at)?"
>
> Thanks, Birkir. That's one of the best pieces of advice I've seen
> about making accessible tables.
> The WCAG and PDF/UA standards can't provide that type of experiential
> guidance. No standards can.
>
> Envision what people with disabilities will need to know so that they
> can more easily understand the data.
>
> —Bevi Chagnon
>
>
> > > archives at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> >


--
Work hard. Have fun. Make history.