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Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

3.1

Priority 3 Item 5

Provide terse substitutes for header labels with the abbr attribute on th. These will be particularly useful for future speaking technologies that can read row and column labels for each cell. Abbreviations cut down on repetition and reading time.

Use the abbreviation tag where necessary

Cups of coffee consumed by each senator
Name Cups Type of Coffee Sugar?
T. Sexton 10 Espresso No
J. Dinnen 5 Decaf Yes
<TABLE border="1" summary="This table charts ...">
  <CAPTION>Cups of coffee consumed by each senator</CAPTION>
 <TR>
  <TH scope="col">Name</TH>
  <TH scope="col">Cups</TH>
  <TH scope="col" abbr="Type">Type of Coffee</TH>
  <TH scope="col">Sugar?</TH>
 </TR><TR>
  <TD>T. Sexton</TD>
  <TD>10</TD>
  <TD>Espresso</TD>
  <TD>No</TD>
 </TR><TR>
  <TD>J. Dinnen</TD>
  <TD>5</TD>
  <TD>Decaf</TD>
  <TD>Yes</TD>
 </TR>
</TABLE>

 

More Resources

View WAI Checkpoint 5.6 - Provide abbreviations for header labels.