Unsupported DPUB ARIA roles should be used on elements with implicit fallback roles

Rule ID: aria-dpub-role-fallback
Ruleset: axe-core 3.5
User Impact: Moderate
Guidelines: WCAG 2.1 (A), WCAG 2.0 (A)

Squash more accessibility bugs with axe DevTools Pro

Find and fix more issues with Intelligent Guided Tests™ by answering a series of simple questions about your page content. Free trial. No credit card needed.

Compliance Data & Impact

User Impact

Moderate
▼
Minor
Critical

Disabilities Affected

  • Blind
  • Low Vision
  • Deafblind

Standard(s)

  • WCAG 2.1 (A)
  • WCAG 2.0 (A)

WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.1 (A)]

  • 1.3.1: SHOULD: Info and Relationships

WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.0 (A)]

  • 1.3.1: SHOULD: Info and Relationships

How to Fix the Problem

Ensure all unsupported DPUB roles are only used on elements with implicit fallback roles.

Supported ARIA DPUB roles are to be applied to Sectioning Content, Grouping Content, Heading Content, Phrasing Content, <aside> and <body> elements where required with appropriate associated epub:type structural semantics values.

For related information about DPUB roles, see W3 DPUB-ARIA 1.0 Roles.

Why it Matters

When a Digital Publishing Role that is not supported is conveyed via a role attribute value, semantic information can only be conveyed to screen reader users via native HTML elements that have similar semantics for fallback.

Proposed or recommended specifications such as WAI-ARIA DPUB roles are subject to becoming obsolete or remaining preliminary prototypes when not supported.

When there is no fallback role specified, assistive technologies such as screen readers may not be able to convey missing semantic and interaction information intended by the author to users.

Rule Description

When a Digital Publishing Role that is not supported is conveyed via a role attribute value, semantic information can only be conveyed to screen reader users via native HTML elements that have similar semantics for fallback.

The Algorithm (in simple terms)

Finds elements with one of the targeted DPUB roles that does not have an implicit fallback role.

Resources

Deque University Course Pages (subscription required)

Contribute to axe-core on GitHub

Other Resources

You may also want to check out these other resources.

Refer to the complete list of axe 3.5 rules.

Was this information helpful?

You have already given your feedback, thank you..

Your response was as follows:

Was this information helpful?
Date/Time feedback was submitted: