ARIA input fields must have an accessible name

Rule ID: aria-input-field-name
Ruleset: axe-core 4.7
User Impact: Serious
Guidelines: WCAG 2.1 (A), WCAG 2.0 (A), Trusted Tester
 

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Compliance Data & Impact

User Impact

Serious
▼
Minor
Critical

Disabilities Affected

  • Blind
  • Deafblind
  • Mobility

Standard(s)

  • WCAG 2.1 (A)
  • WCAG 2.0 (A)
  • Trusted Tester

WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.1 (A)]

  • 4.1.2: MUST: Name, Role, Value

WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.0 (A)]

  • 4.1.2: MUST: Name, Role, Value

Trusted Tester Guidelines

  • 5.C: MUST: The combination of the accessible name, accessible description, and other programmatic associations (e.g., table column and/or row associations) describes each input field and includes all relevant instructions and cues (textual and graphical).

How to Fix the Problem

Correct markup solutions

The aria-input-field-label rule includes six markup patterns that pass testing criteria: 

<!-- combobox -->
<div id="pass1" aria-label="country" role="combobox">England</div>
 
<!-- Select a color: -->
<div id="pass2" role="listbox" aria-labelledby="pass2Label">
    <div role="option">Orange</div>
</div>
 
<!-- searchbox -->
<p id="pass3Label">Search currency pairs:</p>
<div id="pass3"
    role="searchbox"
    contenteditable="true"
    aria-labelledby="pass3Label"></div>
 
<!-- slider -->
<div id="pass4"
    role="slider"
    aria-label="Choose a value"
    aria-valuemin="1"
    aria-valuemax="7"
    aria-valuenow="2"></div>
 
<!-- spinbutton -->
<div id="pass5"
    role="spinbutton"
    aria-valuemin="0"
    aria-valuemax="10"
    aria-valuenow="8"
    aria-label="Enter quantity:"></div>
 
<!-- textbox -->
<label id="foo">
    foo
    <div id="pass6" role="textbox" aria-labelledby="foo"></div>
</label>

Incorrect markup solutions

The aria-input-field-label rule includes ten markup patterns that fail testing criteria: 

<!-- aria-label with empty text string -->
<div id="fail1" aria-label=" " role="combobox">England</div>
 
<!-- The label does not exist. -->
<div id="fail2" aria-labelledby="non-existing" role="combobox">England</div>
 
<!-- The implicit label is not supported on div elements. -->
<label>
    first name
    <div id="fail3" role="textbox"></div>
</label>
 
<!-- explicit label not supported on div elements -->
<label for="fail4">first name</label>
<div role="textbox" id="fail4"></div>
 
<!-- combobox -->
<div id="fail5" role="combobox">England</div>
 
<!-- listbox -->
<div id="fail6" role="listbox" aria-labelledby="label-does-not-exist">
    <div role="option">Orange</div>
</div>
 
<!-- searchbox -->
<div id="fail7"
    role="searchbox"
    contenteditable="true"
    aria-labelledby="unknown-label"></div>
 
 
<!-- slider -->
<div id="fail8"
    role="slider"
    aria-valuemin="1"
    aria-valuemax="7"
    aria-valuenow="2"></div>
 
<!-- spinbutton -->
<div id="fail9"
    role="spinbutton"
    aria-valuemin="0"
    aria-valuemax="10"
    aria-valuenow="8"></div>
 
<!-- textbox -->
<label>foo
    <div id="fail10" role="textbox"></div>
</label>

Why it Matters

This new rule ensures every ARIA input field has an accessible name. Accessible names must exist for the following input field roles:

  • combobox
  • listbox
  • searchbox
  • slider
  • spinbutton
  • textbox

Rule Description

Ensures every ARIA input field has an accessible name.

The Algorithm (in simple terms)

ARIA input fields must have an accessible name.

Resources

Deque University Course Pages (subscription required)

No related course information available.

Contribute to axe-core on GitHub

Refer to the complete list of axe 4.7 rules.

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