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Baseline for Web

19. Frames and iFrames

Accessibility Requirements

  • WCAG SC 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value – For all user interface components (including but not limited to: form elements, links and components generated by scripts), the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies.

Test Method Rationale

While users with vision can recognize the structure presented by frames and iframes, users without vision rely on programmatic elements to determine their content. This test method determines the adequacy of the code to describe the contents of any <frame> or <iframe> for Assistive Technology.

Limitations, Assumptions, or Exceptions

  • In HTML5 the <frame> element is marked as obsolete. The <iframe> element remains part of the HTML5 specification. While the <frame> element has been deprecated in HTML5, testers may still encounter web pages and/or web applications with code that, while outdated, can and should still be accessible.
  • The combination of accessible name and accessible description of an <iframe> is its text alternative.
  • The Fourth Rule of ARIA Use states “do not use role="presentation" or aria-hidden="true" on a focusable element. Using either of these on a focusable element will result in some users focusing on ‘nothing’.”
  • The Fifth Rule of ARIA Use states “all interactive elements must have an accessible name.”

19.A Test Procedure for Frames

Baseline Test ID: 19.A-FrameTitle

Identify Content

Frames

Test Instructions
  1. Check that each <frame> has a title attribute that is not empty. [SC 4.1.2]
  2. Check that the title attribute describes the frame's content. [SC 4.1.2]
Test Results

If any of the above checks fail, then Baseline Test 19.A-FrameTitle fails.

19.B Test Procedure for iFrames

Baseline Test ID: 19.B-iFrameName

Identify Content

iFrames in the keyboard focus order

Test Instructions
  1. Check that the combination of the accessible name and accessible description for each iframe is not empty. [SC 4.1.2]
  2. Check that the non-empty combination of accessible name and description for each iframe describes its content. [SC 4.1.2]
  3. Check that the ARIA role is not "presentation". [SC 4.1.2]
  4. Check that the ARIA role is not "none". [SC 4.1.2]
  5. Check that the aria-hidden state is not "true". [SC 4.1.2]
Test Results

If any of the above checks fail, then Baseline Test 19.B-iFrameName fails.

Advisory: Tips for streamlined test processes

  • None

WCAG 2.0 Techniques

The following techniques and/or common failures were considered when developing this test procedure for this baseline requirement:

All Baseline Tests for Web