WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Adding a label to search box

for

From: Joshue O Connor
Date: Apr 12, 2006 2:50AM


> Another cool benefit of labels is that
> they focus the element the label is associated with when you click
> them. This makes them dead handy with checkboxes, as users get a
> larger area to click on.

Yes, thats right, and this improves the navigability of a complex form
for a screen reader user. So <label> rocks, to use the vernacular.

Josh

Christian Heilmann wrote:
>>>>Use title="search text" on the input element.
>>>>
>>>>It is a no-brainer - no need to hide text and the title is supported by
>>>>screen readers.
>
>
>>But can that be relied on? Isn't it true, that many screen readers (well JAWS anyway), may not
>>read out the contents of the title attribute at all (depending on the users verbosity settings).
>>Isn't title supposed to be for *additional* information?
>>I would use it myself BTW , but not in isolation and certainly not sans <label>, for explicit field/button association.
>
>
> You're right, the title solution is just not safe. The label should do
> two things: It should explain what the connected form field is and it
> should connect the two. Titles can and are in a lot of cases turned
> off, you cannot rely on them. Another cool benefit of labels is that
> they focus the element the label is associated with when you click
> them. This makes them dead handy with checkboxes, as users get a
> larger area to click on. What is so wrong about writing next to a form
> element what you are supposed to enter in it?
>
>
>
>
>