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Using "-1" for table column and row count

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From: Sumit Patel
Date: Oct 30, 2024 5:44AM

Hai all,

I'm writing to get some clarification on the usage of the aria-colcount and
aria-rowcount attributes in data tables, specifically when to use the value
"-1".
I understand that "-1" is generally used for dynamic content where the
total number of rows or columns is unknown at the time the page loads
(e.g., infinite scrolling, paginated tables). However, I'm unsure about
appropriate use cases in the following scenarios:
Scenario 1:
• A table with 2 columns (news headlines and date/time) and 21 rows (always)
• Data is dynamic, with the last 5 rows removed and new 5 rows added at the
top every few minutes
• Screen reader announces the total number of rows as "-1"
Question: Is using "-1" appropriate here, even though the total row count
is always 21?
Scenario 2:
• A table below a filter section
• The table content changes only when the user interacts with the filters
(not dynamically on its own)
• Screen reader announces the total number of rows as "-1"
Question: Is using "-1" appropriate here, since the table content isn't
truly dynamic, but user-controlled?
Scenario 3:
• A table with 30 rows and 100+ columns
• Initially, only 10 columns are displayed. User scrolls right to see
additional columns (lazy loading)
• Screen reader announces the total number of columns as "-1"
Question: Is using "-1" appropriate here for columns, considering lazy
loading reveals more columns on scroll?
Thanks in advance for your insights!

Regards,
Sumit.