HTML and XHTML
This technique relates to:
Assistive technologies provide different levels of support for speaking title attributes. Some do not include features that allow users to access information provided via the title attribute.
Implementing this technique with the title
attribute is only sufficient if the title
attribute is accessibility supported. The content of the title
attribute needs to be available to all keyboard users (not only those with text-to-speech software) for this attribute to be accessibility supported.
JAWS 6.2 and higher and WindowEyes 5.0 and higher support the abbr and acronym elements. They can all be set to speak the title attribute when these elements are encountered, but this is not the default setting and is often not turned on by users.
Many graphical user agents render text enclosed within an abbr
or acronym
element with a dotted line below or surrounding it. In addition, when the mouse hovers over the element, the expansion is displayed as a tool tip.
In Internet Explorer 7 and below, items marked using the abbr
element are not displayed with any additional formatting. For IE 6 and below, the expanded version does not display as a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the item.
Within a given user agent or assistive technology, abbr
and acronym
elements are presented to users in the same way.
The objective of this technique is to provide expansions or definitions for
abbreviations by using the abbr
and acronym
elements.
It is always appropriate to use the abbr
element for any abbreviation,
including acronyms and initialisms. When using HTML and XHTML,
initialisms and acronyms may be marked up using the acronym
element. XHTML
2.0 proposes eliminating the acronym
element in favor of the more general
abbr
element.
Example Code:
<p>Sugar is commonly sold in 5 <abbr title="pound">lb.<abbr> bags.</p>
<p>Welcome to the <abbr title="World Wide Web">WWW</abbr>!</p>
Example Code:
<p>Tasini <abbr title="and others">et al.</abbr> <abbr title="versus">v.</abbr>
The New York Times <abbr title="and others">et al.</abbr> is the landmark lawsuit
brought by members of the National Writers Union against ......</p>
Example Code:
<p>The use of <acronym title="Keep It Simple Stupid">KISS</acronym> became popular in ...</p>
Example Code:
<p><acronym title="World Wide Web">WWW</acronym></p>
Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.
Check that an expansion or definition is provided for each abbreviation via
abbr
or acronym
.
Check #1 is true.