ARIA input fields have an accessible name

Rule ID: aria-input-field-name
User Impact: Serious
WCAG: 4.1.2

Compliance Data & Impact

User Impact

Disabilities Affected

  • Blind
  • Deafblind
  • Mobility

Requirement(s)

  • Not specified, or not applicable

WCAG Success Criteria

  • 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

Section 508 Guidelines

  • Not specified, or not applicable

Rule Description

Ensures every ARIA input field has an accessible name.

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

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>

The Algorithm (in simple terms)

ARIA input fields have an accessible name.