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Re: proper use of labels

for

From: Christian Heilmann
Date: Jun 16, 2005 12:11AM

> On 16 Jun 2005, at 5:06 AM, Jim Thatcher wrote:
> > Use of a title on the select menu is, from my testing, equivalent to
> > the
> > process wrapping an invisible image in the label element to pick up the
> > alt-text.
>
> Yes, thats the point. Here's what the W3c have to say about the title
> attribute:
> "This attribute offers advisory information about the element for which
> it is set"
> (see: http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/global.html#adef-title)
>
> Wrapping a control element in a label is legitimate use of the element
> (see: http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/interact/forms.html#h-17.9.1), and
> has not caused any problems for screen readers as AFAIK. Oh, and I have
> personally tested it in JAWS.

This assumes though that labels are only helpful to visitors with
screen readers and then only those who have set them to read out
titles to them. Labels also help visitors with cognitive disabilities
and dexterity problems and those with low vision.
Just because the guidelines are OK with it and big companies seem to
use a technique doesn't make it a good solution. A clear label telling
me what the form element is makes it a lot easier for all users,
regardless of (dis)ability.


--
Chris Heilmann
Blog: http://www.wait-till-i.com
Writing: http://icant.co.uk/
Binaries: http://www.onlinetools.org/