Data cells must use headers attribute

Rule ID Table 7
Definition Data cells in complex data tables must use headers attribute to identify header cells.
Purpose
  • The data cells in complex data tables need to use the headers attribute to identify the appropriate header cells, since simple row/column relationships cannot be relied upon to provide header information.
  • Complex data tables are defined as tables with row and/or column spans, or more than one header cell (e.g. th element) in any row or column of the table.
Mappings
  • HTML4 Legacy Techniques (Required)
  • HTML5 and ARIA Techniques (Required)
WCAG Success Criteria

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

Other Related Success Criterion:

Rule Category Tables
Scope Element
Target Resources td elements
  • td
Techniques
  • Use headers attribute on each td element used as a data cell to identify header information in complex data tables.
Manual Checks
  • Verify the each data cell has header cells that clearly identify the meaning of the content of the data cell.
  • Verify that empty td and th elements and does not need table headers.
Informational Links