feedback on 4.10.4.2.8 The pattern attribute

feedback on 4.10.4.2.8 The pattern attribute

"When an input element has a pattern attribute specified, authors
should include a title attribute to give a description of the pattern.
User agents may use the contents of this attribute, if it is present,
when informing the user that the pattern is not matched, or at any
other suitable time, such as in a tooltip or read out by assistive
technology when the control gains focus."

This behaviour is not implemented in AT. The announcement of the title
attribute content is dependent on a range of factors including whether
the input an associated label and how the user has configured thier
AT.

"When a control has a pattern attribute, the title attribute, if used,
must describe the pattern. Additional information could also be
included, so long as it assists the user in filling in the control.
Otherwise, assistive technology would be impaired."

It is suggested that assistive technology users will be be impaired by
this author conformance requirement, as it does not reflect
implemented behaviour.

This requirement implicitly recommends the use of the title attribute
to provide error advice, this information would not be accessible to
keyboard only users as no browsers implement title attribute display
via the keyboard.

It is therefore suggested that the author conformance requirements and
references to AT be removed or replaced with advice that makes sense
in terms of AT behaviour.

[1] http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/Overview.html#the-pattern-attribute
-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG Europe
Director - Web Accessibility Tools Consortium

www.paciellogroup.com | www.wat-c.org
Web Accessibility Toolbar -
http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html

Received on Thursday, 9 April 2009 09:27:38 UTC