Question about ITS? Ask Ellsworth!

Library, Information and Technology Services

Web Services

Tables

Content

Tables are often used to organize data and to control the layout of text and images in a site. These pose quite a few concerns for screen readers and other text only visitors. While a Web designer can't guarantee their text will be organized well, they can take steps to ensure most everyone will be able to have access to it.

Columns

Screen readers will look at the screen from left to right, regardless of tables. In older screen readers, if the contents of one cell runs more than one line the reader will automatically jump to the next cell before completing the first cell. This can be particularly difficult to overcome in Web design Newer screen readers will finish reading each cell until they have finished all cells within the current row before progressing on to the next row.

If it is possible, one should attempt to provide the information in an alternate no-tables format with a link near the top of the table. At the end of the no-tables format page, Web designers should include a link that anchors back to the original page just below the table.

Next Tip