Do not override header element role. (Deprecated)

Rule ID Role 8
Definition Overriding a header element's default role of banner landmark must only be done in special cases. NOTE: Deprecated in favor of HTML 3 a more general rule on role restrictions based on ARIA in HTML specification.
Purpose
  • A top-level header element has role restrictions as part of its definition in the W3C HTML5 Specification to help ensure the header element semantics of identifying banner landmark content.
  • A top-level header element should only use role="presentation" if the content of the header element is not being used to identify banner landmark content (e.g. repairing poor page semantics).
Mappings
  • HTML4 Legacy Techniques (Recommended)
  • HTML5 and ARIA Techniques (Recommended)
WCAG Success Criteria

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A, Primary Success Criterion)

Other Related Success Criterion:

Rule Category Styling/Content
Scope Element
Target Resources header elements
  • header
Techniques
  • The top level header element with no role value by default defines a banner landmark, but the role="banner" is allowed to support legacy pages.
  • If the top level header element does not identify a banner landmark content use a different element that does identify the semantics of content.
  • In rare cases role="presentation" can be used when the header element does not represent the banner landmark content on the page (e.g. repairing poor page semantics).
  • Any other role values are not allowed on header elements.
Informational Links