Step 1: Understand your goals
All tables:
- Have their headers defined <th>
- Are used only for datasets (not presentation)
- Include a summary that describes the purpose of the table
Table accessibility resources
Step 2: Watch the video
Tables help organize and show logical data relationships. But do your tables relate headers and data for screen readers? Users who rely on assistive technologies will understand the data much better if the table follows accessibility guidelines.
Learn how to test your tables to ensure they have defined headers, are only used for datasets, and describe a clear purpose.
Step 3: Practice your new skill
Basic tests
If there are tables on the page:
- Use the ‘tables’ module in ANDI to verify there is a summary
- Use the ‘tables’ module in ANDI to verify there are table headers
- Make sure there is data in the table and it isn’t being used for non-data content presentation
- Make sure there are no errors reported in the Accessibility Alerts section of the ‘tables’ module in ANDI
Note: Tables on web pages often aren’t accessible. Present the content in a different way when possible.