I created a few examples of using ARIA to augment the text of a button. I tested these examples with the browsers and screen readers currently offering the best support for ARIA and compiled the results in the table below. I did my best to do an honest test and get the modes in the screen reader set correctly - your mileage may vary. In JAWS I tested with virtual PC cursor on, off and in auto mode which I toggled using the insert+z keys. VC in the JAWS results below refers to virtual cursor mode. In Window-Eyes I tested with browse mode on and browse mode off - toggled via ctrl+shift+a. In NVDA I tested in browse mode and focus mode - toggled via insert+space.
| Browser/AT | offscreen aria-labelledby | aria-describedby | aria-label | title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox 3.0.8 with JAWS 10 | spoken in VC all modes | not spoken in VC on spoken in VC off & auto | not spoken in any mode | not spoken in VC on & off spoken in auto |
| Minefield 20090326 with JAWS 10 | spoken in all modes | not spoken in VC on spoken in VC off & auto | spoken in all modes | not spoken in VC on & off spoken in auto |
| IE 8 with JAWS 10 | spoken in all modes | spoken in VC on & auto not spoken in VC off | not spoken in any mode | not spoken in VC on spoken in VC off & auto |
| Firefox 3.0.8 with WE 6.1 | spoken in browse on & off | spoken in browse on & off | not spoken in any mode | spoken in browse on & off |
| Minefield 20090326 with WE 6.1 | spoken in browse on & off | not spoken in any mode | spoken in browse on & off | not spoken in any mode |
| IE 8 with WE 6.1 | spoken in browse on & off | not spoken in any mode | not spoken in any mode | spoken in browse on & off |
| Firefox 3.0.8 with NVDA 0.6p32 | not spoken in browse mode spoken in focus mode | not spoken in browse mode spoken in focus mode | not spoken in either mode | not spoken in browse mode spoken in focus mode |
| Minefield 20090326 with NVDA 0.6p32 | not spoken in browse mode spoken in focus mode | not spoken in either mode | not spoken in browse mode spoken in focus mode | not spoken in either mode |
| IE 8 with NVDA 0.6p32 | spoken in both modes | not spoken in either mode | not spoken in either mode | not spoken in either mode |
Created on April 9, 2009 by Becky Gibson