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Re: [External Sender]What are the semantics in html?

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From: Murphy, Sean
Date: Jul 9, 2020 5:41PM

Brian,

The below paragraph I would like you to expand upon as I am not sure if I follow:

" Part of the semantics of an element being in the tab order is that that element is actionable, so adding a non-actionable element to the tab order with tabindex="0" is a semantic failure."


Could you provide a specific example on the above to make it clearer.



Sean Murphy | Accessibility expert/lead
Digital Accessibility manager
Telstra Digital Channels | Digital Systems
Mobile: 0405 129 739 | Desk: (02) 9866-7917

www.telstra.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Brian Lovely via WebAIM-Forum
Sent: Thursday, 9 July 2020 10:27 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Cc: Brian Lovely < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] [External Sender] Re: What are the semantics in html?

[External Email] This email was sent from outside the organisation – be cautious, particularly with links and attachments.

Semantics in HTML is additional information that is understood to be associated with particular elements. For instance the semantics of a table include that the data it contains is tabular data. So if a page author uses a table simply for layout, this is considered a semantic failure.

Part of the semantics of an element being in the tab order is that that element is actionable, so adding a non-actionable element to the tab order with tabindex="0" is a semantic failure.

To look at it another way, when a screen reader user encounters a semantic element, like a well-formed button, they automatically know certain things about that element:
Role (button)
That it is actionable (specifically with the enter key, space bar, and
mouse)
That activating it will cause some change and/or action on the current page That said action is related to the button name (for instance
<button>Edit</button>)

On Thu, Jul 9, 2020 at 3:24 AM Léonie Watson < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
wrote:

> I wrote this post on "Understanding semantics". Perhaps it'll help.
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tink.uk/understanding-semantics/__
> ;!!EFVe01R3CjU!IgBgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz
> 2nPIrWYpotAVCmA$
>
> BTW, I know the videos linked from the post are no longer available.
> Careless deletion of my old YouTube account meant I lost them, but I
> do plan to replace them just as soon as I can.
>
> Léonie.
>
> > I couldn't understand what the semantics are, what they are needed
> > for and how they are applied to a screen reader and be used for
> > accessibility tasks.
> >
> > I thought that they are the same things as elements such as a
> > heading from level 1 to 6, but it seems like it is not like that.
> >
> > So, can somebody explain that please?
> >
> > Thank you in advance!
> >
> > --
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Vsevolod
> >
> > > > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://list.webaim.org/__;!!EFVe01R3CjU!Ig
> BgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz2nPIrWYqt5gLF_w$
> > List archives at
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://webaim.org/discussion/archives__;!!
> EFVe01R3CjU!IgBgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz2nP
> IrWYqqbC3nng$
> > >
> --
> Director @TetraLogical
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tetralogical.com__;!!EFVe01R3CjU!I
> gBgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz2nPIrWYoTUDS1Cg$
> > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://list.webaim.org/__;!!EFVe01R3CjU!Ig
> BgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz2nPIrWYqt5gLF_w$
> List archives at
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://webaim.org/discussion/archives__;!!
> EFVe01R3CjU!IgBgbjAAlf2j4ISiDAuvDlPNi4SuYMq3CSgP6z3S8EmENdgoz_jvFIz2nP
> IrWYqqbC3nng$ >


--
*Brian Lovely*
Capital One Digital Accessibility
804.389.1064




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