Effective Label Test

The following tests examine how screen readers identify form fields when different combinations of legend, label, title, alt, and value are present:

Test 1: Text Input w/ Legend, Label, Title, Alt, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Label Edit Value"
JAWS 9: "Legend Label Edit Value" ("Label Edit Value" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Label Value Editbox" ("Value Editbox Label" in browse mode)

Test 2: Text Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Title Edit Value"
JAWS 9: "Legend Title Edit Value" ("Title Edit Value" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Title Value Editbox" ("Value Editbox Title" in browse mode)

Test 3: Text Input w/ Legend, Alt, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Edit Value" ("Legend Alt Edit Value" in virtual mode/form field list)
JAWS 9: "Legend Alt Edit Value" ("Alt Edit Value" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Fake Label Value Editbox" ("Value Editbox Alt" in browse mode)

Test 4: Text Input w/ Legend, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Edit Value" ("Legend LegendText Edit Value" in virtual mode/form field list)
JAWS 9: "Legend LegendText Edit Value" ("LegendText Edit Value" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Fake Label Value Editbox" ("Value Editbox" in browse mode)

Test 5: Button Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Title Button"
JAWS 9: "Legend Title Button" ("Title Button" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Title Value Button" ("Value Button Title" in browse mode)

Test 8: Button Element w/ Legend, Title, Content, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Content Button" ("Legend Title Button" in virtual mode/form field list)
JAWS 9: "Legend Title Button" ("Title Button" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Title Content Button" ("Content Button Title" in browse mode)

Test 9: Button Element w/ Legend, Content, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Content Button"
JAWS 9: "Legend Content Button" ("Content Button" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Content Button"

Test 10: Button Element w/ Legend, Image Alt, Value

JAWS 7: "Legend Alt Button" ("Legend Value Button" in virtual mode/form field list)
JAWS 9: "Legend Alt Button" ("Alt Button" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Button"

Test 11: Image Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

JAWS 7: "Legend Title Button"
JAWS 9: "Legend Title Button" ("Title Button" in form field list)
WE 6.1: "Title Value Button" ("Value Button Title" in browse mode)

Conclusions

Generally, the tested screen readers determine the "effective label" for a form field based on the formula:

[legend] + label | title | alt | value

(Legend, if present, followed by label or title or alt or value.)

Note that label takes precedence over everything, title takes precedence over alt and value, and alt takes precedence over value (although value is read in addition to the others for text inputs.)

Also, note that Window-Eyes does not read legends unless a user setting is changed.

Please send questions, comments, or suggestions to accessibility@msfw.com.

MSF&W Accessibility Tests

Effective Label Test

Test 1: Text Input w/ Legend, Label, Title, Alt, Value

Results

Test 2: Text Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

Test 3: Text Input w/ Legend, Alt, Value

Results

Test 4: Text Input w/ Legend, Value

Results

Test 5: Button Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

Test 6: Button Input w/ Legend, Alt, Value

Results

Test 7: Button Input w/ Legend, Value

Results

Test 8: Button Element w/ Legend, Title, Content, Value

Results

Test 9: Button Element w/ Legend, Content, Value

Results

Test 10: Button Element w/ Legend, Image Alt, Value

Test 11: Image Input w/ Legend, Title, Alt, Value

Results

Test 12: Image Input w/ Legend, Alt, Value

Results

Test 13: Image Input w/ Legend, Value

Results

Conclusions