Re: HTML5 implementor feedback requested - title attribute accessibility mapping

Hi dave,

so in your opinion is use of the title attribute to provide an
accessible name for an element an acceptable method in some cases?

for example in the following WCAG 2.0 techniques it recommends the
title attribute for form controls

"The objective of this technique is to use the title attribute to
label form controls when the visual design cannot accommodate the
label "
http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H65

or the the use of the title attribute to identify iframe and frame elments:
"The use of title as described in this technique is recommended "
http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/H64.html

regards
stevef

On 13 December 2011 15:46, david bolter <david.bolter@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't expect we (Mozilla) will stop using the title attribute value as a
> last resort in attempting to provide an accessible name, that would regress
> accessibility.
>
> My opinion.
>
> Cheers,
> David
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 6:54 AM, Steve Faulkner <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Adrian, Maciej, Anne and David
>> (note: if there is a more approriate implementor representative this
>> email should go to please advise)
>>
>> Your feedback on this would be appreciated.
>>
>> The title attribute as implemented (in all browsers that implement
>> accessibility support) is mapped to the accessible name in all
>> accessibility APIs in all browsers (that implement mapping), so in the
>> absence of other labelling mechanisms, all HTML form controls are
>> labelled by the title attribute content if present. The same goes for
>> most other HTML elements. This reality is not reflected in the usage
>> advice in the spec.
>>
>> There is a WCAG technique that documents how to use the title
>> attribute to label controls: H65: Using the title attribute to
>> identify form controls when the label element cannot be used
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H65
>>
>> There is another WCAG 2.0 technique that documents how to use the
>> title attribute to identify frame and iframe elements
>> H64: Using the title attribute of the frame and iframe elements
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/H64.html
>>
>> The HTML5 specification does not provide any advice on how the title
>> attribute content is used (as detailed above).
>> I filed a bug https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=14740
>>
>> the rationale provided by the HTML5 editor for its rejection:
>>
>> "Rationale: If browsers map it in a manner inconsistent with its meaning,
>> that
>> should be fixed."
>>
>> Do any implementors have any plans to change the current
>> implementation in browsers to match the HTML5 specification meaning?
>>
>> i.e. are there any plans to stop mapping the title attribute to the
>> accessible name in accessibility APIs? So that it does not provide a
>> label for controls and other elements?
>>
>>
>> with regards
>> Stevef
>>
>



-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG

www.paciellogroup.com | www.HTML5accessibility.com |
www.twitter.com/stevefaulkner
HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives -
dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/
Web Accessibility Toolbar - www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html

Received on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 16:31:25 UTC