Web Accessibility Checker : Check Details

Element

table

Error Type

Potential

Guidelines

WCAG 2.0 (Level A)
1.3 Ensure that information and structure can be separated from presentation
Success Criteria 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)
WCAG 2.0 (Level AA)
1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure.
Success Criteria 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)
WCAG 2.0 (Level AAA)
1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information or structure.
Success Criteria 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)

Requirement

All data tables contain a caption unless the table is identified within the document.

Error

Data table may require a caption.

Short Description

Tables must be identified by a caption unless they are identified within the document.

How To Determine

Question	Is this table identified within the document and does not require a `caption`?
PASS	Table is identified within the document and does not require a `caption`.
FAIL	Table is not identified within the document and requires a `caption`.

Steps To Check

Procedure

1. Check all data tables in the document.
2. Check for the presence of a caption.
3. Check the document to see if the table is identified.
4. Note: The table identification should be close to (immediately precede) the table.

Expected Result

1. All data tables contain a caption unless the table is identified within the document.

Failed Result

1. Add a valid caption element to the table or identify the table within the document.

Examples

Pass Examples

Data table with a caption that describes the nature of the table.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/xhtml; charset=UTF-8" />
<title>ATRC Testfile - Check #151.2 - Negative</title>
</head>
<body>

<table border="1"><caption>Coffee Consumed By Senators</caption>
<tr><th>name</th><th>number of cups</th><th>type</th><th>with sugar</th></tr>
<tr><td>Adams, Willie</td><td>2</td><td>regular</td><td>sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bacon, Lise</td><td>4</td><td>regular</td><td>no sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chaput, Maria</td><td>1</td><td>decaf</td><td>sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Di Nino, Consiglio</td><td>0</td><td>not applicable</td><td>not applicable</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eggleton, Art</td><td>6</td><td>regular</td><td>no sugar</td></tr>
</table>

</body>
</html>

Fail Examples

Data table without a caption is not identified within the document.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/xhtml; charset=UTF-8" />
<title>ATRC Testfile - Check #151.1 - Positive</title>
</head>
<body>

<table border="1">
<tr><th>name</th><th>number of cups</th><th>type</th><th>with sugar</th></tr>
<tr><td>Adams, Willie</td><td>2</td><td>regular</td><td>sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bacon, Lise</td><td>4</td><td>regular</td><td>no sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Chaput, Maria</td><td>1</td><td>decaf</td><td>sugar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Di Nino, Consiglio</td><td>0</td><td>not applicable</td><td>not applicable</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eggleton, Art</td><td>6</td><td>regular</td><td>no sugar</td></tr>
</table>

</body>
</html>