A element with ONCLICK but no HREF - Screen reader compatibility

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

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

WCAG Technique: F42

Code used for this test:

<a onclick='alert(&apos;hello&apos;);'>Hello</a>
    

Change History

• NVDA with IE Better - caused problems in NVDA 2014.1, but now OK in NVDA 2015.2
• NVDA with FF Better - caused problems in NVDA 2014.1, but now OK in NVDA 2015.2
• JAWS with IE Better - caused problems in JAWS 15.0.9023, but now OK in JAWS 16.0.4350
• JAWS with FF Better - caused problems in JAWS 15.0.9023, but now OK in JAWS 16.0.4350
• VoiceOver OS X Causes problems in VoiceOver OSX 10.10
• VoiceOver iOS Causes problems from VoiceOver iOS 8.4 to VoiceOver iOS 9.1
• WindowEyes with IE Better - caused problems in WindowEyes 8.4, but now OK in WindowEyes 9.2
• SaToGo with IE Causes problems in SaToGo 3.4.96.0

Screen reader	Browser	Mode	Notes	What the user hears
NVDA 2015.2	FF41	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
NVDA 2015.2	FF41	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Clickable, hello
NVDA 2015.2	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
NVDA 2014.1	FF29	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
NVDA 2014.1	FF29	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Clickable, hello
NVDA 2014.1	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF41	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
JAWS 16.0.4350	FF41	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
JAWS 16.0.4350	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF29	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
JAWS 15.0.9023	FF29	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
JAWS 15.0.9023	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link hello
JAWS 14.0.9002	FF29	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Reading	Link can be activated in reading mode	Link, hello
JAWS 14.0.9002	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Reading		Hello, clickable
WindowEyes 9.2	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Reading		Hello, on click
WindowEyes 8.4	IE11	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
VoiceOver OSX 10.10	Safari 9.0.1	Reading		Hello, clickable
VoiceOver OSX 10.10	Safari 9.0.1	Tabbing	Skipped when tabbing
VoiceOver iOS 9.1	Safari iOS 9.1	Touch	No indication that text is a clickable link.	Hello
VoiceOver iOS 8.4	Safari iOS 8.4	Touch	No indication that text is a clickable link.	Hello
SaToGo 3.4.96.0	IE11	Reading TODO
SaToGo 3.4.96.0	IE11	Reading TODO

SortSite rules: AccWcag2-F42-1

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