ARIA in HTML

W3C Recommendation

More details about this document
This version:
https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/REC-html-aria-20240507/
Latest published version:
https://www.w3.org/TR/html-aria/
Latest editor's draft:
https://w3c.github.io/html-aria/
History:
https://www.w3.org/standards/history/html-aria/
Commit history
Implementation report:
https://w3c.github.io/html-aria/results/implementation-results.html
Editors:
Scott O'Hara (Microsoft)
Patrick H. Lauke (TetraLogical)
Former editor:
Steve Faulkner (TPGi) - Until
Feedback:
GitHub w3c/html-aria (pull requests, new issue, open issues)
public-webapps@w3.org with subject line [html-aria] … message topic … (archives)
Errata:
Errata exists.

See also translations.

Copyright © 2024 World Wide Web Consortium. W3C® liability, trademark and permissive document license rules apply.

Abstract

This specification defines the authoring rules (author conformance requirements) for the use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 and Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 attributes on [HTML] elements. This specification's primary objective is to define requirements for use with conformance checking tools used by authors (i.e., web developers). These requirements will aid authors in their development of web content, including custom interfaces and widgets, which make use of ARIA to complement or extend the features of the host language [HTML].

Status of This Document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at https://www.w3.org/TR/.

ARIA in HTML is an [HTML] specification module. Any HTML features, conformance requirements, or terms that this specification module makes reference to, but does not explicitly define, are defined by the HTML Standard.

Since this specification become a W3C Recommendation on 09 December 2021, the following substantive additions and/or corrections have been proposed:

Reviewers of the document can identify candidate additions and/or corrections by their distinctive styling in the document:

Candidate corrections are marked in the document.

Candidate additions are marked in the document.

This document was published by the Web Applications Working Group as a Recommendation using the Recommendation track. It includes candidate amendments, introducing substantive changes and new features since the previous Recommendation.

W3C recommends the wide deployment of this specification as a standard for the Web.

A W3C Recommendation is a specification that, after extensive consensus-building, is endorsed by W3C and its Members, and has commitments from Working Group members to royalty-free licensing for implementations. Future updates to this Recommendation may incorporate new features.

Candidate additions are marked in the document.

Candidate corrections are marked in the document.

This document was produced by a group operating under the W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

This document is governed by the 03 November 2023 W3C Process Document.

1. Author requirements for use of ARIA in HTML

Authors MAY use the ARIA role and aria-* attributes to change the exposed meaning (semantics) of HTML elements, in accordance with the requirements defined by WAI-ARIA, except where ARIA features conflict with the strong native semantics or are equal to the implicit ARIA semantics of a given HTML element. The implicit ARIA semantics for the features of HTML are defined by the HTML Accessibility API Mappings specification.

Any constraints for the use of ARIA features in HTML defined by this specification are intended to prevent authors from making assistive technology products report nonsensical user interface (UI) information that does not represent the actual UI of the document.

Authors MUST NOT use the ARIA role and aria-* attributes in a manner that conflicts with the semantics described in the 4. Document conformance requirements for use of ARIA attributes in HTML and 4.2 Requirements for use of ARIA attributes in place of equivalent HTML attributes tables. It is NOT RECOMMENDED for authors to set the ARIA role and aria-* attributes to values that match the implicit ARIA semantics defined in either table. Doing so is unnecessary and can potentially lead to unintended consequences.

2. ARIA semantics that extend and diverge from HTML

This section is non-normative.

Through the use of ARIA, authors can specify semantics that go beyond the current capabilities of native HTML. This can be very useful, as it provides authors the opportunity to create widgets, or expose specific accessible states and properties to native HTML features which would not be possible by the use of HTML alone.

For instance, a button element has no native HTML feature to expose a "pressed" state. ARIA allows authors to extend the semantics of the element by specifying the aria-pressed attribute, allowing for an aural UI that will match the visual presentation of the control.

In the following example, a button element allows for a user to toggle the state of a setting within a web application. The aria-pressed attribute is used to augment the button element. When in the "pressed" state that information can be exposed to users of assistive technologies.

Example 1: Communicate a button's pressed state with ARIA 
<button aria-pressed=true>...</button>

There are also situations where certain aria-* attributes are allowed for use on elements with specific roles, while the equivalent native attribute is currently not valid in HTML itself.

For instance, HTML has no direct concept of a disabled hyperlink (a href element). Constructs such as <a href="..." disabled> ... </a> are not valid, and will not be conveyed to assistive technologies.

ARIA diverges from HTML in this regard and does allow for an aria-disabled attribute to be specified on an element with an explicit role=link. If an author were to specify an aria-disabled=true on an HTML hyperlink, user agents would not functionally treat the hyperlink any differently (it would still be clickable/operable), however it would be exposed to assistive technologies as being in the disabled state.

Similarly, while native HTML option elements that are descendants of a select can only be set as being selected, elements with an explicit option role can not only allow the equivalent aria-selected, but also the aria-checked attribute, supporting widgets/constructs that go beyond the capabilities of a native select element.

Unfortunately, in these situations where ARIA and HTML have feature parity, but diverge in allowances, it can create for a misalignment in support, if not also user experiences. In situations where ARIA allows a feature not supported by HTML, it will often be in the author's and ultimately the user's best interest to instead implement as a fully custom ARIA widget.

In the following example, a hyperlink needs to be communicated as being in the disabled state. HTML does not allow for the use of the disabled attribute on a hyperlink, and using aria-disabled=true would communicate the hyperlink as being disabled to assistive technologies, but would not actually disable the element. The most effective way to both communicate and actually disable a hyperlink would be to remove the href from the a element, creating a placeholder. Then, ARIA can be applied to this placeholder link to communicate the element's intended role and state.

3. Author guidance to avoid incorrect use of ARIA

This section is non-normative.

3.1 Avoid overriding interactive elements with non-interactive roles

ARIA is useful for revising or correcting the role of an element when a different role is necessary to expose to users. However, it is rarely in the user or author's best interest to try and use ARIA to override an interactive element, for instance a button, with a role generally exposed by a non-interactive element. For instance, a heading.

As an example, the following uses a role=heading on a button element. This is not allowed, because the button element has default functionality that conflicts with user expectations for the heading role.

Example 3: Wrong role 
<button role="heading">search</button>

An author would need to take additional steps to ensure the default functionality and presentation of the button was removed, and even doing so may still not be enough to fully supress the element's implicit features depending on how the user chooses to engage with the web page. E.g., by turning on Windows high contrast themes, or viewing the web page in a browser's reader mode.

3.2 Avoid specifying redundant roles

The following example illustrates a button element which has also been provided an explicit role=button. Specifying this role is unnecessary, as a "button" element is already exposed with an implicit button role. In practice this particular instance of redundancy will likely not have unforeseen side effects, other than unnecessarily making the markup more verbose, and incorrectly signaling to other authors that this practice is useful. Please review the section 3.3 Be cautious of side effects for an example of where specifying unnecessary roles can be problematic.

Example 4: Redundant role on button 
<!-- Avoid doing this! -->
<button role="button">...</button>

Similarly, the following uses a role=group on a fieldset element, and a role=Main on a main element. This is unnecessary, because the fieldset element is implicitly exposed as a role=group, as is the main element implicitly exposed as a role=main. Again, in practice this will likely not have any unforeseen side effects to users of assistive technology, as long as the declaration of the role value uses ASCII lowercase. Please see 4.4 Case requirements for ARIA role, state and property attributes for more information.

Example 5: Redundant role on fieldset and main 
<!-- Avoid doing this! -->
<fieldset role="group">...</fieldset>
<!-- or this! -->
<main role="Main">...</main>

The following uses a role=list on an ul element. As the ul element has an implicit role of list, explicitly adding the role would generally be considered redundant. However, some user agents suppress a list's implicit ARIA semantics if the list markers are removed from the visual presentation of the list items. Generally the redundant declaration of an element's implicit role would not be recommended, but in specific situations such as this, and where the role is necessary to expose, authors can explicitly add the role.

Example 6: Redundant role on list 
<!-- Generally avoid doing this! -->
<ul role="list">...</ul>

3.3 Be cautious of side effects

The following uses a role=button on a summary element. This is unnecessary and can result in cross-platform issues. For instance, preventing the element from correctly exposing its state, and forcing the role of button, when it might otherwise be exposed with a platform or browser specific role.

Example 7: Unintended consequences 
<details>
  <!-- Avoid doing this! -->
  <summary role="button">more information</summary>
  ...
</details>

3.4 Adhere to the rules of ARIA

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 defines a number of roles which are not meant to be used by authors. Many of these roles are categorized as Abstract Roles which are explicitly stated as not to be used by authors. The following example illustrates the invalid use of an abstract select role, where an author likely meant to use the combobox role instead.

Example 8: Abstract roles are not for authors 
<!-- Do not do this! -->
<div role="select" ...>...</div>

ARIA also defines a generic role which is meant to provide feature parity with a number of HTML elements that do not have more specific ARIA semantics of their own. For instance, HTML's div and span elements, among others. ARIA discourages authors from using the generic role as its intended purpose is for use by implementors of user agents.

In the following example, rather than using a generic role, authors are advised to use a div in place of the article element. If changing the HTML element is not possible, specifying a role of presentation or none would be acceptable alternaties to remove the implicit role of the article.

Example 9: Do not specify elements as generic 
<!-- Avoid doing this! -->
<article role="generic" ...>...</article>

Additionally, ARIA specifically mentions in Conflicts with Host Language Semantics that if authors use both native HTML features for exposing states and properties as well as their ARIA counterparts, then the host language features take priority over the explicit ARIA attributes that are also used.

For instance, in the following example an author is using HTML's input type=checkbox and has specified an aria-checked=true. However, user agents are meant to ignore the aria-checked attribute. Instead user agents would expose the state based on the native features of the form control.

Example 10: The implicit checked state takes precedent over the explicit ARIA attribute 
<!-- Do not do this! -->
<input type="checkbox" checked aria-checked="false">

3.5 Adhere to the rules of HTML

While ARIA can be used to alter the way HTML features are exposed to users of assistive technologies, these modifications do not change the underlying parsing and allowed content models of HTML. For instance, a div allows an author to specify any role on it. However, this does not mean that the element can then be used in a way that deviates from the rules HTML has defined for the element.

For instance, in the following example an author has specified a role of link on a div element. While HTML allows for a hyperlink (exposed as a role=link) to be a descendant of a p element, the HTML parser does not allow a div to be a descendant of a p element.

Example 11: Revised ARIA semantics with invalid HTML nesting 
<!-- Do not do this! -->
<p>
  ... <div role=link tabindex=0>...</div> ... 
</p>

The HTML parser will modify the above markup to be output as the following:

Example 12: Unwanted rendered markup with valid alternative solution 
<!-- The previous example's markup will render as follows -->
<p>...</p>
<div role=link tabindex=0>...</div> 
... 
<p></p>

<!-- Instead of a div, use a span. Spans are allowed descendants of p elements! -->
<p>
  ... <span role=link tabindex=0>...</span> ...
</p>

While this specification indicates the allowed ARIA attributes that can be specified on each HTML element, this example illustrates that even if a role is allowed, the context in which it is used can still result in potential rendering and accessibility issues.

4. Document conformance requirements for use of ARIA attributes in HTML

The following table provides normative per-element document conformance requirements for the use of ARIA markup in HTML documents. Additionally, it identifies the implicit ARIA semantics that apply to HTML elements. The implicit ARIA semantics of these elements are defined in HTML AAM.

Each language feature (element) in a cell in the first column implies the ARIA semantics (role, states, and properties) given in the cell in the second column of the same row. The third cell in each row defines the ARIA role values and aria-* attributes which authors MAY specify on the element. Where a cell in the third column includes the term Any role it indicates that any role value MAY be used on the element. However, it is NOT RECOMMENDED for authors to specify the implicit role of the element, the generic role, or a role deprecated by ARIA on these elements. If a cell in the third column includes the term No role it indicates that authors MUST NOT overwrite the implicit ARIA semantics, or native semantics of the HTML element.

WAI-ARIA identifies roles which have prohibited states and properties. These roles do not allow certain WAI-ARIA attributes to be specified by authors. HTML elements which expose these implicit WAI-ARIA roles also prohibit authors from specifying these WAI-ARIA attributes.

Elements which are identified as Naming prohibited are those which authors MUST NOT specify an aria-label or aria-labelledby attribute, unless the element allows for its implicit role to be overwritten by an explicit WAI-ARIA role which allows naming from authors. For more information see 4.1 Requirements for use of ARIA attributes to name elements.

Note

While setting an ARIA role and/or aria-* attribute that matches the implicit ARIA semantics is NOT RECOMMENDED, in some situations explicitly setting these attributes can be helpful – for instance, for user agents that do not expose implicit ARIA semantics for certain elements.

Note

While it is conforming to use Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 role values as outlined in the following table, the current support for exposing the semantics of these values to users of assistive technology is close to non-existent.

Rules of ARIA attribute usage by HTML element
HTML element

Implicit ARIA semantics (explicitly assigning these in markup is NOT RECOMMENDED)

ARIA role, state and property allowances
a with href role=link

Roles: button, checkbox, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, switch, tab or treeitem. (link is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Roles: doc-backlink, doc-biblioref, doc-glossref or doc-noteref

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

It is NOT RECOMMENDED to use aria-disabled="true" on an a element with an href attribute.

Note
If a link needs to be programmatically communicated as "disabled", remove the href attribute.
a without href role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

abbr No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

address role=group

Any role, though group SHOULD NOT be used.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

area with href role=link

No role other than link, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the link role.

area without href role=generic

Roles: button or link. (generic is also allowed, but SHOULD NOT BE USED.)

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

article role=article

Roles: application, document, feed, main, none, presentation or region. (article is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

aside role=complementary

Roles: feed, none, note, presentation, region or search. (complementary is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Roles: doc-dedication, doc-example, doc-footnote, doc-glossary, doc-pullquote or doc-tip

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

audio No corresponding role

Role: application

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the application role.

autonomous custom element

Role exposed from author defined ElementInternals

Otherwise role=generic

If role defined by ElementInternals, no role

Otherwise, any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited if exposed as the generic role, or if exposed as another role which prohibits naming.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

b role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

base No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

bdi role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

bdo role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

blockquote role=blockquote

Any role, though blockquote is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

body role=generic

No role other than generic, which SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes allowed for the generic role, with the exception that authors MUST NOT specify aria-hidden=true on the body element.

br No corresponding role

Roles: none or presentation

Authors MAY specify the aria-hidden attribute on the br element. Otherwise, no other allowed aria-* attributes.

button role=button

Roles: checkbox, combobox, gridcell, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, separator, slider, switch, tab, or treeitem. (button is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

canvas No corresponding role

Any role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

caption role=caption

No role other than caption, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes.

cite No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

code role=code

Any role, though code is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

col No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

colgroup No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

data role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

datalist role=listbox

No role other than listbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

No aria-* attributes.

dd No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the definition role.

del role=deletion

Any role, though deletion is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

details role=group

No role other than group, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the group role.

dfn role=term

Any role, though term is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

dialog role=dialog

Role: alertdialog. (dialog is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the dialog role.

div role=generic

If a direct child of a dl element, only presentation or none. Otherwise, any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

dl No corresponding role

Roles: group, list, none or presentation

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

dt No corresponding role

Role: listitem

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

em role=emphasis

Any role, though emphasis is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

embed No corresponding role

Roles: application, document, img, none or presentation.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

fieldset role=group

Roles: none, presentation or radiogroup. (group is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

figcaption No corresponding role

Roles: group, none or presentation

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

figure role=figure

If the figure has no figcaption descendant:
Any role, though figure is NOT RECOMMENDED.

If the figure has a figcaption descendant:
DPub Role: doc-example.

Otherwise, figure is allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

footer

If not a descendant of an article, aside, main, nav or section element, or an element with role=article, complementary, main, navigation or region then role=contentinfo

Otherwise, role=generic

Roles: group, presentation or none. (If not a descendant of an article, aside, main, nav or section element, or an element with role=article, complementary, main, navigation or region, then role=contentinfo is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED. Otherwise, role=generic is also allowed, but SHOULD NOT be used.)

DPub Role: doc-footnote

Naming Prohibited if exposed as generic.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

form

role=form

Roles: none, presentation or search. (form is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Note

A form is not exposed as a landmark region unless it has been provided an accessible name.

form-associated custom element

Role exposed from author defined ElementInternals

Otherwise role=generic

If role defined by ElementInternals, no role

Otherwise, form-related roles: button, checkbox, combobox, listbox, progressbar, group, radio, radiogroup, searchbox, slider, spinbutton, switch or textbox. (generic is also allowed, but SHOULD NOT be used.)

Naming Prohibited if exposed as the generic role.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

h1 to h6 role=heading, aria-level = the number in the element's tag name

Roles: none, presentation or tab. (heading is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Role: doc-subtitle

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

head No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

header

If not a descendant of an article, aside, main, nav or section element, or an element with role=article, complementary, main, navigation or region then role=banner

Otherwise, role=generic

Roles: group, none or presentation. (If not a descendant of an article, aside, main, nav or section element, or an element with role=article, complementary, main, navigation or region, then role=banner is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED. Otherwise, role=generic is also allowed, but SHOULD NOT be used.)

Naming Prohibited if exposed as generic.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

hgroup role=group

Any role, though group SHOULD NOT be used.

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

hr role=separator

Roles: none or presentation. (separator is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Role: doc-pagebreak

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the separator role.

html role=document

No role other than document, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

No aria-* attributes.

i role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

iframe No corresponding role

Roles: application, document, img, none or presentation.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

img with an accessible name.
If the img has non-empty alt (alt="some text") or an accessible name is provided another img naming method:
role=img

Roles: button, checkbox, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, meter, option, progressbar, radio, scrollbar, separator, slider, switch, tab or treeitem. (img is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Role: doc-cover

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

img with no accessible name.

If the img has an empty alt (alt="") and lacks any other img naming methods:
role=none, role=presentation

If the img lacks an alt attribute and lacks any other img naming methods:
role=img

If the img has no alt attribute or accessible name: No role other than the role=none or presentation roles. (role=img is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

If the img has an empty alt="" attribute and no aria-label or aria-labelledby attributes to provide it an accessible name: No role other than the role=none or presentation roles, which are NOT RECOMMENDED.

No aria-* attributes except aria-hidden="true".

Otherwise, if the img has an author defined accessible name, see img with an accessible name.

input type=button role=button

Roles: checkbox, combobox, gridcell, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, separator, slider, switch, tab, or treeitem. (button is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

input type=checkbox role=checkbox

Roles: menuitemcheckbox, option or switch; button if used with aria-pressed. (checkbox is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Authors MUST NOT use the aria-checked attribute on input type=checkbox elements.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Note

The HTML checked attribute can be used instead of the aria-checked attribute for menuitemcheckbox, option or switch roles when used on type=checkbox.

input type=color No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and aria-disabled attribute.

input type=date No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=datetime-local No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=email with no list attribute role=textbox

No role other than textbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=file No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes, aria-disabled, aria-invalid and aria-required attributes.

input type=hidden No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

input type=image role=button

The following roles are allowed, but are NOT RECOMMENDED: button, checkbox, gridcell, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, separator, slider, switch, tab or treeitem.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

If possible, authors SHOULD consider using a different HTML element which allows the specified role, such as the button element.

input type=month No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=number role=spinbutton

No role other than spinbutton, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the spinbutton role.

input type=password No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=radio role=radio

Role: menuitemradio. (radio is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Authors MUST NOT use the aria-checked attribute on input type=radio elements.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Note

The HTML checked attribute can be used instead of the aria-checked attribute for the menuitemradio role when used on type=radio.

input type=range role=slider

No role other than slider, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-valuemax or aria-valuemin attributes on input type=range.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the slider role.

input type=reset role=button

The following roles are allowed, but are NOT RECOMMENDED: button, checkbox, combobox, gridcell, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, separator, slider, switch, tab or treeitem.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

If possible, authors SHOULD consider using a different HTML element which allows the specified role, such as the button element.

input type=search, with no list attribute role=searchbox

No role other than searchbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the searchbox role.

input type=submit role=button

The following roles are allowed, but are NOT RECOMMENDED: button, checkbox, combobox, gridcell, link, menuitem, menuitemcheckbox, menuitemradio, option, radio, separator, slider, switch, tab or treeitem.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

If possible, authors SHOULD consider using a different HTML element which allows the specified role, such as the button element.

input type=tel, with no list attribute role=textbox

No role other than textbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=text or with a missing or invalid type, with no list attribute role=textbox

Roles: combobox, searchbox or spinbutton. (textbox is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

input type=text, search, tel, url, email, or with a missing or invalid type, with a list attribute role=combobox

No role other than combobox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-haspopup attribute on the indicated inputs with a list attribute.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the combobox role.

input type=time No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=url with no list attribute role=textbox

No role other than textbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

input type=week No corresponding role

No role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

ins role=insertion

Any role, though insertion is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

kbd No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

label No corresponding role

No role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes.

legend No corresponding role

No role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes.

li

If the li is a child of a list element (ul, ol, menu) role=listitem.

Otherwise, if the li is not a child of a list element it is exposed as a role=generic.

No role other than listitem, which is NOT RECOMMENDED, if the parent list element has an implicit or explicit list role.

Otherwise, any role if the parent list element does not expose an implicit or explicit list role.

Note

See ul, ol, or menu for allowed roles for list elements.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the following deprecated DPub Roles: doc-biblioentry, doc-endnote.

link No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

main role=main

No role other than main, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the main role.

map No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

mark No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

math role=math

No role other than math, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the math role.

menu role=list

Roles: group, listbox, menu, menubar, none, presentation, radiogroup, tablist, toolbar or tree. (list is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Authors SHOULD NOT use deprecated directory role.

meta No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

meter role=meter

No role other than meter, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-valuemax or aria-valuemin attributes on meter elements.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the meter role.

nav role=navigation

Roles: menu, menubar, none, presentation or tablist. (navigation is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

DPub Roles: doc-index, doc-pagelist or doc-toc

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

noscript No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

object No corresponding role

Roles: application, document or img.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

ol role=list

Roles: group, listbox, menu, menubar, none, presentation, radiogroup, tablist, toolbar or tree. (list is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Authors SHOULD NOT use deprecated directory role.

optgroup role=group

No role other than group, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the group role.

option element that is in a list of options or that represents a suggestion in a datalist role=option

No role other than option, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-selected attribute on the option element.

Global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the option role.

output role=status

Any role, though status is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

p role=paragraph

Any role, though paragraph is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

param No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

picture No corresponding role

No role

Authors MAY specify the aria-hidden attribute on the picture element. Otherwise, no other allowed aria-* attributes.

pre role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

progress role=progressbar

No role other than progressbar, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-valuemax attribute on progress elements.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the progressbar role.

q role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

rp No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

rt No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

ruby No corresponding role

Any role

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

s role=deletion

Any role, though deletion is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

samp role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

script No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

search

role=search

Roles: form, group, none, presentation or region. (search is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

section

role=region if the section element has an accessible name

Otherwise, role=generic

Roles: alert, alertdialog, application, banner, complementary, contentinfo, dialog, document, feed, group, log, main, marquee, navigation, none, note, presentation, search, status or tabpanel. (role=region is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED. role=generic SHOULD NOT be used.)

DPub Roles: doc-abstract, doc-acknowledgments, doc-afterword, doc-appendix, doc-bibliography, doc-chapter, doc-colophon, doc-conclusion, doc-credit, doc-credits, doc-dedication, doc-endnotes, doc-epigraph, doc-epilogue, doc-errata, doc-example, doc-foreword, doc-glossary, doc-index, doc-introduction, doc-notice, doc-pagelist, doc-part, doc-preface, doc-prologue, doc-pullquote, doc-qna, doc-toc

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

select (with NO multiple attribute and NO size attribute having value greater than 1) role=combobox

Role: menu. (combobox is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-multiselectable attribute on a select element.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the combobox or menu role.

select (with a multiple attribute or a size attribute having value greater than 1) role=listbox

No role other than listbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-multiselectable attribute on a select element.

Otherwise, any global aria-* attributes and any other aria-* attributes applicable to the listbox role.

slot No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

small role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

source No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

span role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

strong role=strong

Any role, though strong is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

style No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

sub role=subscript

Any role, though subscript is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

summary

No corresponding role

Note
Many, but not all, user agents expose the summary element with an implicit ARIA role=button.

No role if the summary element is a summary for its parent details.

Global aria-* attributes, aria-disabled, and aria-haspopup attributes.

Otherwise, authors MAY specifiy Any role, and any global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

sup role=superscript

Any role, though superscript is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

SVG role=graphics-document as defined by SVG AAM

Any role, though graphics-document is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

table role=table

Any role, though table is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

tbody role=rowgroup

Any role, though rowgroup is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

td

role=cell if the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=table

role=gridcell if the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=grid or treegrid

No corresponding role if the ancestor table element is not exposed as a role=table, grid or treegrid

If the ancestor table element has role=table, grid, or treegrid, no role other than the following:

  • If the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=table, then cell is allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.
  • If the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=grid or treegrid, then gridcell is allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.

Otherwise, if the ancestor table element is not exposed as a role=table, grid or treegrid, any role.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

template No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

textarea role=textbox

No role other than textbox, which is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the textbox role.

tfoot role=rowgroup

Any role, though rowgroup is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

th

role=columnheader, rowheader or cell if the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=table

role=columnheader, rowheader or gridcell if the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=grid or treegrid

No corresponding role if the ancestor table element is not exposed as a role=table, grid or treegrid

If the ancestor table element has role=table, grid, or treegrid, no role other than the following:

  • If the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=table, then columnheader, rowheader and cell are allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.
  • If the ancestor table element is exposed as a role=grid or treegrid, then columnheader, rowheader or gridcell are allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.

Otherwise, if the ancestor table element is not exposed as a role=table, grid or treegrid, any role.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

thead role=rowgroup

Any role, though rowgroup is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

time role=time

Any role, though time is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

title No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

tr role=row

If the ancestor table element has role=table, grid, or treegrid, no role other than row, which is NOT RECOMMENDED; otherwise any role, though row is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

track No corresponding role

No role or aria-* attributes

u role=generic

Any role, though generic SHOULD NOT be used.

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

ul role=list

Roles: group, listbox, menu, menubar, none, presentation, radiogroup, tablist, toolbar or tree. (list is also allowed, but NOT RECOMMENDED.)

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the deprecated directory role.

var No corresponding role

Any role

Naming Prohibited

Otherwise, global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the allowed roles.

video No corresponding role

Role: application

Global aria-* attributes and any aria-* attributes applicable to the application role.

wbr No corresponding role

Roles: none or presentation

Authors MAY specify the aria-hidden attribute on the wbr element. Otherwise, no other allowed aria-* attributes.

The elements marked with No corresponding role, in the second column of the table do not have any implicit ARIA semantics, but they do have meaning and this meaning may be represented in roles, states and properties not provided by ARIA, and exposed to users of assistive technology via accessibility APIs. It is therefore recommended that authors add a role attribute to a semantically neutral element such as a div or span, rather than overriding the semantics of the listed elements.

Note

Authors are encouraged to make use of the following documents for guidance on using ARIA in HTML beyond that which is provided here:

  • Using ARIA - A practical guide for authors on how to add accessibility information to HTML elements using the Accessible Rich Internet Applications specification.
  • WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.2 - An author's guide to understanding and implementing Accessible Rich Internet Applications.

4.1 Requirements for use of ARIA attributes to name elements

Authors MAY use aria-label and aria-labelledby attributes to specify accessible names for elements which have an implicit or explicit ARIA role which allows naming from authors. Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 defines roles which allow naming from authors as well as roles where author naming is prohibited.

Authors MUST NOT specify aria-label or aria-labelledby on elements with implicit WAI-ARIA roles which cannot be named. HTML elements whose implicit WAI-ARIA roles prohibit naming from authors are identified in 4. Document conformance requirements for use of ARIA attributes in HTML.

The following markup example demonstrates a selection of HTML elements with implicit ARIA roles that prohibit naming from authors.

Example 14: Elements with implicit ARIA roles which prohibit naming from authors 
<!-- DO NOT do the following! -->
<p aria-label="...">...</p>

<span aria-label="...">...<span>

<code aria-label="...">...<code>

<div aria-labelledby="...">...</div>

The following markup example demonstrates elements which have explicit WAI-ARIA roles which allow naming from authors. Due to the explicit roles specified on these elements, aria-label and aria-labelledby attributes are allowed.

Example 15: Elements with explicit ARIA roles which allow naming from authors 
<p role="link" tabindex="0" aria-label="...">...</p>

<span role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="...">...<span>

<div role="article" aria-labelledby="...">...</div>

4.2 Requirements for use of ARIA attributes in place of equivalent HTML attributes

Unless otherwise stated, authors MAY use aria-* attributes in place of their HTML equivalents on HTML elements where the aria-* semantics would be expected. For example, authors MAY specify aria-disabled=true on a button element, while also implementing the necessary scripting to functionally disable the button, rather than the use disabled attribute.

As stated in WAI-ARIA's Conflicts with Host Language Semantics, when HTML elements use both aria-* attributes and their host language (HTML) equivalents, user agents MUST ignore the WAI-ARIA attributes – the native HTML attributes with the same implicit ARIA semantics take precedence. For this reason, authors SHOULD NOT specify both the native HTML attribute and the equivalent aria-* attribute on an element. Please review each attribute for any further author specific requirements.

The following table represents HTML elements and their attributes which have aria-* attribute parity.

Each language feature (element and attribute) in a cell in the first column implies the ARIA semantics (states, and properties) given in the cell in the second column of the same row. The third cell in each row defines how authors can use the native HTML feature, along with requirements for using the aria-* attributes that supply the same implicit ARIA semantics.

Rules of ARIA attribute usage by HTML feature
HTML feature

Implicit ARIA semantics

HTML feature and aria-* attribute author guidance
Any element where the checked attribute is allowed aria-checked="true"

Use the checked attribute on any element that is allowed the checked attribute in HTML. Use the indeterminate IDL attribute to indicate the "mixed" state for input type=checkbox elements.

Authors MUST NOT use the aria-checked attribute on any element where the checkedness, or the indeterminate checked value of the element can be in opposition to the current value of the aria-checked attribute.

Authors MAY use the aria-checked attribute on any other element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the attribute.

Any element where the disabled attribute is allowed, including option disabled and optgroup disabled aria-disabled="true"

Use the disabled attribute on any element that is allowed the disabled attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-disabled attribute on any element that is allowed the disabled attribute in HTML, or any element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the aria-disabled attribute.

Authors SHOULD NOT use aria-disabled="true" on any element which also has a disabled attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-disabled="false" on any element which also has a disabled attribute.

Any element with a hidden attribute aria-hidden="true"

Authors MAY use the aria-hidden attribute on any HTML element that allows global aria-* attributes, with the following exception:

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-hidden="true" attribute on any element which also has a hidden attribute.

Any element where the placeholder attribute is allowed aria-placeholder="..."

Use the placeholder attribute on any element that is allowed the placeholder attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-placeholder attribute on any element that is allowed the placeholder attribute in HTML, or any element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the aria-placeholder attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use the aria-placeholder attribute on any element which also has a placeholder attribute.

Any element where the max attribute is allowed: meter max, progress max, and input max aria-valuemax="..."

Use the max attribute on any element that is allowed the max attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-valuemax attribute on any other element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the aria-valuemax attribute.

Authors SHOULD NOT use aria-valuemax on any element which allows the max attribute. Use the max attribute instead.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-valuemax on any element which also has a max attribute.

Any element where the min attribute is allowed: meter min and input min aria-valuemin="..."

Use the min attribute on any element that is allowed the min attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-valuemin attribute on any other element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the aria-valuemin attribute.

Authors SHOULD NOT use aria-valuemin on any element which allows the min attribute. Use the min attribute instead.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-valuemin on any element which also has a min attribute.

Any element which allows the readonly attribute: input readonly, textarea readonly and form-associated custom element which allows readonly aria-readonly="true"

Use the readonly attribute on any element that is allowed the readonly attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-readonly attribute on any element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the attribute.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-readonly="true" on any element which also has a readonly attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-readonly="false" on any element which also has a readonly attribute.

Element with contenteditable=true or element without contenteditable attribute whose closest ancestor with a contenteditable attribute has contenteditable="true".

Note

This is equivalent to the isContentEditable IDL attribute.

aria-readonly="false" Authors MUST NOT set aria-readonly="true" on an element that has isContentEditable="true".
Any element where the required attribute is allowed: input required, textarea required, and select required aria-required="true"

Use the required attribute on any element that is allowed the required attribute in HTML.

Authors MAY use the aria-required attribute on any element that is allowed the required attribute in HTML, or any element with a WAI-ARIA role which allows the aria-required attribute.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-required="true" on any element which also has a required attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-required="false" on any element which also has a required attribute.

Any element where the colspan attribute is allowed: td and th aria-colspan="..."

Use the colspan attribute on any element that is allowed the colspan attribute in HTML.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-colspan attribute on any element which also has a colspan attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-colspan on any element which also has a colspan attribute, and the values of each attribute do not match.

Any element where the rowspan attribute is allowed: td and th aria-rowspan="..."

Use the rowspan attribute on any element that is allowed the rowspan attribute in HTML.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the aria-rowspan attribute on any element which also has a rowspan attribute.

Authors MUST NOT use aria-rowspan on any element which also has a rowspan attribute, and the values of each attribute do not match.

4.3 Requirements for deprecated ARIA role, state and property and attributes

The ARIA Specification's Deprecated Requirements section indicates that if an ARIA feature is marked as deprecated then authors are advised not to use said feature for new content.

The following roles and attributes are deprecated features of ARIA and DPub ARIA. Conformance checkers MUST warn authors about the deprecated status of these features. Whenever possible, authors are advised to use alternatives to deprecated features.

4.3.1 Deprecated ARIA roles

Note

The directory role is marked for deprecation in WAI-ARIA 1.2. In reality, the directory role had no functional difference to an element with an implicit or explicit list role. Authors are advised to use one of HTML's native list elements, or an ARIA list instead.

4.3.2 Deprecated DPub ARIA roles

Note

The doc-biblioentry and doc-endnote roles are marked for deprecation in Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.1, as they are not valid children for an element with an implicit or explicit role of list. Authors can use standard list and child li elements without the need for these roles.

4.3.3 Deprecated ARIA attributes

Note

The aria-dropeffect and aria-grabbed attributes were deprecated in WAI-ARIA 1.1. There is presently no feature in ARIA to replace their proposed functionality.

4.4 Case requirements for ARIA role, state and property attributes

Authors SHOULD use ASCII lowercase for all role token values and any state or property attributes (aria-*) whose values are defined as tokens.

Note

While modern browsers treat the role or aria-* attribute values as ASCII case-insensitive, not all assistive technologies will correctly parse these values.

To reduce interoperability issues, authors are strongly encouraged to use ASCII lowercase for aria-* and role attribute values. Further, authors are encouraged to rigorously test with different browser and assistive technology combinations to ensure that their content will be correctly exposed to their users.

5. Allowed descendants of ARIA roles

This section is non-normative.

The following table maps (and extends) the Kinds of content and allowed descendant information (defined in the [HTML] specification) to elements that have an equivalent role.

Column 1 links to the normative Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 definitions for each ARIA role. Column 2 identifies the Kinds of content categories each role has when it is used on an HTML element. Column 3 indicates what kinds of HTML elements can be descendants of an element with an explicit role specified, often matching the HTML element with the same implicit role.

For example, a button element has an implicit role=button. In HTML a button element allows phrasing content as descendants, and does not allow interactive content or descendants with a tabindex attribute. Therefore, any elements specified with a role=button would follow the same descendant restrictions, and not allow any interactive content descendants, elements with a tabindex specified, or any elements with role values that are in the interactive content category (identified in column 3).

Examples of non-conforming descendants 
<!-- conformance checkers will report an error -->
<button>
  <div role="button">...</div>
</button>

<div role="button">
  <button>...</button>
</div>

<div role="link">
  <textarea>...</textarea>
</div>

Additionally, there are certain roles which Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 has specified specific requirements for their allowed descendants. These have been identified in column 3 (Descendant allowances) by indicating to "Refer to the 'Required Owned Elements'" for those particular roles.

Allowed descendants of ARIA roles
Role Kind of content Descendant allowances
alert Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
alertdialog Flow content Flow content
application Flow content Flow content
article Flow content but with no main element descendants.
banner Flow content but with no main, header, or footer element descendants.
blockquote Flow content but with no main element descendants.
button Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
caption N/A Flow content but with no main or table element descendants.
cell N/A Flow content but with no main element descendants.
checkbox Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
code Phrasing content
columnheader N/A Flow content but with no main, header, or footer element descendants.
combobox Flow content but with no main element descendants.
complementary Flow content but with no main element descendants.
contentinfo Flow content but with no main, header, or footer element descendants.
definition Phrasing content
deletion Phrasing content
dialog Flow content Flow content
directory Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
document Flow content Flow content
emphasis Phrasing content
feed Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
figure Flow content but with no main element descendants.
form Flow content, but with no form element descendants.
generic Flow content
grid Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA grid role.
gridcell Interactive content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
group Flow content
heading Phrasing content
img Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants.
insertion Phrasing content
link Flow content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
list Flow content Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA list role.
listbox Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA listbox role.
listitem N/A Flow content but with no main element descendants.
log Flow content Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
main Flow content Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
marquee Flow content Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
math Flow content Flow content
menu Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA menu role.
menubar Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA menubar role.
menuitem Interactive content Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
menuitemcheckbox Interactive content Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
menuitemradio Interactive content Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
meter Phrasing content, but with no meter element descendants.
navigation Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
none N/A Transparent
note Flow content Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
option Interactive content Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
paragraph Phrasing content
presentation N/A Transparent
progressbar Phrasing content, but with no progress element descendants.
radio Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
radiogroup Flow content
region Flow content, but with no main element descendants.
row N/A Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA row role.
rowgroup N/A Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA rowgroup role.
rowheader N/A Flow content but with no main element descendants.
scrollbar Interactive content Phrasing content
search Flow content but with no main element descendants.
searchbox Flow content but with no main element descendants.
separator Interactive content (if focusable) Phrasing content
slider Phrasing content
spinbutton Flow content but with no main element descendants.
status Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
strong Phrasing content
subscript Phrasing content
superscript Phrasing content
switch Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
tab Interactive content Phrasing content, but with no interactive content descendants, and no descendants with a tabindex attribute specified.
table Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA table role.
tablist Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA tablist role.
tabpanel Flow content Flow content
term Phrasing content Phrasing content
textbox Interactive content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
time Phrasing content
timer Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
toolbar Flow content Flow content but with no main element descendants.
tooltip Flow content Phrasing content
tree Flow content Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA tree role.
treegrid Flow content Refer to the "Required Owned Elements" as defined for the ARIA treegrid role.
treeitem Interactive content Phrasing content

6. Conformance

As well as sections marked as non-normative, all authoring guidelines, diagrams, examples, and notes in this specification are non-normative. Everything else in this specification is normative.

The key words MAY, MUST, MUST NOT, NOT RECOMMENDED, SHOULD, and SHOULD NOT in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.

6.1 Conformance checking requirements

Conformance checkers that claim support for checking ARIA in HTML documents MUST implement checks for the conformance requirements for use of the ARIA role and aria-* attributes on HTML elements as defined in this specification.

A conforming document MUST NOT contain any elements with author defined role or aria-* attributes with values other than those which, per this specification, authors MAY use on each HTML element in 4. Document conformance requirements for use of ARIA attributes in HTML. Conformance checkers SHOULD flag instances where authors are explicitly providing an element with a role which matches its implicit ARIA semantics as failures, as it is NOT RECOMMENDED for authors to explicitly set these roles.

A conformance checker MAY define their own terminology, and level or levels of severity, when surfacing document failures to conform to this specification.

7. Privacy and security considerations

This section is non-normative.

This specification does not define the features of [wai-aria-1.2], [dpub-aria-1.0] or [HTML]. Rather it provides rules and guidance for conformance checkers that claim support for checking ARIA in HTML, as well as providing guidance to authors.

Therefore, there are no known privacy or security impacts of this specification, as it defines no new features to introduce potential concern.

A. References

A.1 Normative references

[accname-1.2]
Accessible Name and Description Computation 1.2. Bryan Garaventa; Melanie Sumner. W3C. 29 April 2024. W3C Working Draft. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/accname-1.2/
[dpub-aria-1.0]
Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0. Matt Garrish; Tzviya Siegman; Markus Gylling; Shane McCarron. W3C. 14 December 2017. W3C Recommendation. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/dpub-aria-1.0/
[dpub-aria-1.1]
Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.1. Matt Garrish; Tzviya Siegman. W3C. 27 February 2024. W3C Candidate Recommendation. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/dpub-aria-1.1/
[html]
HTML Standard. Anne van Kesteren; Domenic Denicola; Ian Hickson; Philip Jägenstedt; Simon Pieters. WHATWG. Living Standard. URL: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/
[html-aam-1.0]
HTML Accessibility API Mappings 1.0. Scott O'Hara. W3C. 18 April 2024. W3C Working Draft. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/html-aam-1.0/
[infra]
Infra Standard. Anne van Kesteren; Domenic Denicola. WHATWG. Living Standard. URL: https://infra.spec.whatwg.org/
[RFC2119]
Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels. S. Bradner. IETF. March 1997. Best Current Practice. URL: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2119
[RFC8174]
Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words. B. Leiba. IETF. May 2017. Best Current Practice. URL: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8174
[svg-aam-1.0]
SVG Accessibility API Mappings. Amelia Bellamy-Royds; Ian Pouncey. W3C. 10 May 2018. W3C Working Draft. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/svg-aam-1.0/
[wai-aria-1.1]
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1. Joanmarie Diggs; Shane McCarron; Michael Cooper; Richard Schwerdtfeger; James Craig. W3C. 14 December 2017. W3C Recommendation. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-1.1/
[wai-aria-1.2]
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2. Joanmarie Diggs; James Nurthen; Michael Cooper; Carolyn MacLeod. W3C. 6 June 2023. W3C Recommendation. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-1.2/

A.2 Informative references

[using-aria]
Using ARIA. Steve Faulkner; David MacDonald. W3C. 27 September 2018. W3C Working Draft. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/using-aria/
[wai-aria-practices-1.2]
WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.2. Matthew King; JaEun Jemma Ku; James Nurthen; Zoë Bijl; Michael Cooper. W3C. 19 May 2022. W3C Working Group Note. URL: https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices-1.2/