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Re: [EXTERNAL] Data tables in html and blank cells

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From: Mark Magennis
Date: Nov 20, 2020 2:37AM

Caron,

There's no general accessibility problem with having blank cells in a table. It all comes down to what is clearest and easiest for users and that depends on the nature of the table and its data. In some cases blank cells may be confusing, for instance if there is a strong reason for the user to expect there to be content in cell. In that case a 'placeholder' message may be helpful. In your example, that doesn't sound like it would be the case. In fact, it sounds like the user might expect most of the cells to be blank.

I wouldn't worry too much about a placeholder message being repeated by a screen reader for every cell. In my experience working with screen reader users (I am not one myself) they will very quickly get used to hearing the placeholder message and will skip to the next cell as soon as they hear "This area". A minor annoyance at worst.

Mark