Inappropriate Structural Grouping Check
Description
The “Inappropriate Structural Grouping Check” evaluates whether there is any misuse of multiple <br> elements in a row, tipically used to create visual spacing or simulate structured content (like lists) rather than using proper semantic HTML elements.
Example outcome
I found 1 sequence composed by 3 or more <br> elements - I suspect they are being used to represent list items.
Impact
- Visual Impairments: Screen readers interpret
<br>as a pause or line break, not as a list item or section divider. As a result, list-like content rendered with<br>is read as a single, uninterrupted block of text, making it confusing and difficult to parse. - Motor Impairments: Navigating semantically correct HTML (e.g., jumping between list items) is much easier than navigating through dozens of
<br>tags, which offer no structural context. - Cognitive Disabilities: Visual layout tricks using
<br>create inconsistency between visual structure and logical meaning. Users with cognitive disabilities benefit from clear, predictable semantic grouping (like real<ul>,<ol>, or<dl>elements).
Fixes
To address inappropriate structural grouping:
- Locate the incorrectly used
<br>elements. - Replace them with the correct semantic tags, depending on the intended meaning (e.g.,
<ul>).