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aria-description attribute (future aria release) (aria)

Screen Reader support level: partial (17/22)

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About this feature

Defines a string value that describes or annotates the current element.

Age of results

Results across all tests for this feature range from 10 days ago to 4 years ago. Detailed dates and version information can be found in associated tests.

Failing and partial results are between 10 days ago and 4 years ago.

Expectations

What are expectations?

Screen Reader support by expectation

ExpectationJAWSNarratorNVDAOrcaTalkBackVoiceOver (iOS)VoiceOver (macOS)
ChromeEdgeFirefoxEdgeChromeEdgeFirefoxFirefoxChromeSafariSafari
MUST contribute to the descriptionpartial (1/2)partial (1/2)partial (1/2)partial (1/2)supportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedpartial (1/2)
SHOULD convey description changes when in focussupportedsupportedsupportednonesupportedsupportednonenonenonenonenone

Expectation: contribute to the description

Strength of this expectation for different types of assistive technologies:

  • Screen Readers: MUST
  • Voice Control: NA
Screen Reader support for 'MUST contribute to the description'
TestJAWSNarratorNVDAOrcaTalkBackVoiceOver (iOS)VoiceOver (macOS)
ChromeEdgeFirefoxEdgeChromeEdgeFirefoxFirefoxChromeSafariSafari
aria-description attribute test suite applied to: input[type="text"] elementsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupported
aria-description attribute test suite applied to: span elementnonenonenonenonesupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportedsupportednone

Expectation: convey description changes when in focus

Strength of this expectation for different types of assistive technologies:

  • Screen Readers: SHOULD
  • Voice Control: NA
Screen Reader support for 'SHOULD convey description changes when in focus'
TestJAWSNarratorNVDAOrcaTalkBackVoiceOver (iOS)VoiceOver (macOS)
ChromeEdgeFirefoxEdgeChromeEdgeFirefoxFirefoxChromeSafariSafari
aria-description attribute test suite applied to: input[type="text"] elementsupportedsupportedsupportednonesupportedsupportednonenonenonenonenone
TestLast update
aria-description attribute test suite2026-02-28

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