WD: Accessible Name and Description Computation 1.1 (Call for Wide Review)

Accessible Name and Description Computation 1.1

https://www.w3.org/TR/2018/WD-accname-1.1-20180320/

Abstract


This document describes how user agents determine the names and descriptions of accessible objects from web content languages. This information is in turn exposed through accessibility APIs so that assistive technologies can identify these objects and present their names or descriptions to users. Documenting the algorithm through which names and descriptions are to be determined promotes interoperable exposure of these properties among different accessibility APIs and helps to ensure that this information appears in a manner consistent with author intent.

The accessible name and description computation specification defines support that applies across multiple content technologies. This includes accessible name and description provided by general-purpose WAI-ARIA [WAI-ARIA] roles, states, and properties as well as features specific to individual content languages.

This document updates and will eventually supersede the accessible name and description guidance in the WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide [WAI-ARIA-IMPLEMENTATION] W3C Recommendation. It is part of the WAI-ARIA suite described in the WAI-ARIA Overview.

Status of the Document


This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at https://www.w3.org/TR/.

This is a wide review Working Draft of Accessible Name and Description Computation 1.1 by the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Working Group. This version removes Accessibility API mapping information, which is now in Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 [CORE-AAM-1.1], and accordingly the document title removes "...and Accessibility API Mappings..." from the previous title. It also includes some changes to the name and description computation algorithm. A history of changes to Accessible Name and Description Computation is available in the appendix.

The ARIA Working Group believes the content of this draft is complete for the 1.1 version. Accordingly, this version is published for wide review; the Working Group plans to advance to Candidate Recommendation at the end of the review period. Feedback on any aspect of the specification is accepted. For this publication, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Working Group particularly seeks feedback on the following questions: Is the accessible name and description computation clear? Are ambiguities between the role of WAI-ARIA and host language features resolved? Is the relationship of this specification to WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 clear?

To comment, file an issue in the W3C AccName GitHub repository. If this is not feasible, send email to public-aria@w3.org (comment archive). Comments are requested by 13 April 2018. In-progress updates to the document may be viewed in the publicly visible editors' draft.

This document was published by the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Working Group as a Working Draft. This document is intended to become a W3C Recommendation.

Publication as a Working Draft does not imply endorsement by the W3C Membership. This is a draft document and may be updated, replaced or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to cite this document as other than work in progress.

This document was produced by a group operating under the W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

This document is governed by the 1 February 2018 W3C Process Document.