Missing Data Table Caption Check

Description

The “Missing Data Table Caption Check” evaluates whether there is any data table withou a <caption> element to describe the purpose or content of the table.

Example outcome

I located 1 data table without the <caption> element.

Impact

• Visual Impairments: Screen readers will not announce what the table is about unless a caption or an alternative mechanism is provided. This can make the data meaningless or confusing in isolation.
• Cognitive Disabilities: Users with cognitive disabilities benefit from extra cues to understand structure and purpose. Captions serve as a simple, consistent way to provide that context.
• ADHD/Memory Disorders: A caption serves as an anchor to help ADHD / memory users remember what they’re looking at while navigating the table.

Fixes

To address data tables without a <caption> element:

1. Locate the data table.
2. Add a <caption> element to it, describing concisely what the table contains.
3. Place the <caption> tag immediately after the <table> opening tag.

Resources

• WCAG 2.2: Understanding Success Criteria 1.3.1
• WCAG 2.2 Techniques: Technique H39: Using caption elements to associate data table captions with data tables
• WebAIM: Semantic Structure: Regions, Headings, and Lists
• WebAIM: Creating Accessible Tables