A link TARGET opens in new window - Screen reader compatibility

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 17 screen reader / browser combinations

WCAG Technique: F22

Code used for this test:

<a href='http://www.example.com' target='_blank'>Example</a>
    

Change History

• NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2015.2
• NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2015.2
• JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 15.0.9023 to JAWS 16.0.4350
• JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 16.0.4350
• VoiceOver OS X Causes problems from VoiceOver OSX 10.9 to VoiceOver OSX 10.10
• VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 7.1 to VoiceOver iOS 9.1
• WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2

Screen reader	Browser	Mode	Notes	What the user hears
NVDA 2015.2	FF41	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
NVDA 2014.1	FF29	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF41	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, says "new tab link" first time link clicked (but not on subsequent clicks).	Example, link. New tab page.
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF29	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, says "new tab link" first time link clicked.	Example, link. New tab link.
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Link, example
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Link, example
VoiceOver OSX 10.10	Safari 9.0.1	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
VoiceOver OSX 10.9	Safari 7.0.3	Tabbing	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
VoiceOver iOS 9.1	Safari iOS 9.1	Touch	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
VoiceOver iOS 8.4	Safari iOS 8.4	Touch	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link
VoiceOver iOS 7.1	Safari iOS 7.1	Touch	No indication a new window will open before clicking link, or that one has opened after clicking link.	Example, link

SortSite rules: AccWcag1-10.1.2

Test notes

The threshold for inclusion in these results is 5% usage in the most recent WebAIM screen reader survey. Chrome and Android still fall below the 5% threshold.

All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.

Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:

• Reading Content read using the «read next» command in a screen reader
• Tabbing Content read using the «tab» key in a screen reader
• Heading Content read using the «next heading» key in a screen reader
• Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device

In the «What the user hears» column:

• Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
• Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the «read next» or «tab» or «next heading» command is pressed again
• Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
• (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear