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RE: Why do we need 'Scope' attribute?

for

From: Jim Thatcher
Date: Jul 18, 2005 8:34PM

This is a very troubling question for me. Today screen readers assume the
first row and the first column are headers with no markup whatsoever. Well,
to be good citizens, we add TH's on those table cells that are headers even
though the screen readers don't need them. But the scope attribute? I
believe the ONLY cell that needs a scope attribute is the cell in the first
row and first column, cell 1,1, because that corner cell could either be a
row header or a column header (or neither). What scope could the TH in row
1, column 7 have besides scope="col".



I advise clients to use TH and scope - but darn it, it is redundant and
unnecessary - even silly!



Jim



Accessibility Consulting: http://jimthatcher.com/

512-306-0931

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Mamta Tandel
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 5:34 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] Why do we need 'Scope' attribute?



Hi all,



There are two things that can make a simple data table accessible:

1. Scope attribute

2. The header tag <th> (for the column and row headers)



With JAWS, a table with headers reads just as fine as with a table with
scope attribute.



The point is why do developers have to add an extra code by providing the
scope attribute when the same job can be done with headers?



Can someone let me know...

Do we need really need scope attribute?



Awaiting response.



Regards,

Mamta Tandel