Bug 78992 – AXRoleDescription for HTML5 header element is incorrect

• Status: RESOLVED
• Resolution: INVALID
• Component: Accessibility

[Steve Faulkner]

Currently the HTML5 header element has an AXRoleDescription="banner". This is the same description as for the ARIA banner landmark role. 
http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/html-api-map/raw-file/tip/Overview.html
It is suggested that this is incorrect as ARIA banner role semantics are not the same as the HTML5 header element. banner can be described as a special case header that conveys the particular semantics:

"A region that contains mostly site-oriented content, rather than page-specific content.
Site-oriented content typically includes things such as the logo or identity of the site sponsor, and site-specific search tool. A banner usually appears at the top of the page and typically spans the full width.
Within any document or application, the author SHOULD mark no more than one element with the banner role."
http://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria/roles#banner

the header element has more generic semantics and does not have the same constraints as the banner role. So many headers may be included within a single document

"The header element represents a group of introductory or navigational aids."
http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-header-element.html#the-header-element

Suggest changing to AXRoleDescription="header"

[Mike West]

(In reply to comment #0)
> Currently the HTML5 header element has an AXRoleDescription="banner". This is the same description as for the ARIA banner landmark role. 

The current behavior for the `header` element is slightly more complex: if the `header` element is not contained within an `article` or `section` element, it has a description of "banner". If it is contained in one of those elements, it falls back to "group".

Regardless of what we do with this bug, we should test that behavior. Same goes for the `footer` element. I'll throw a patch up under https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=88911 

> Suggest changing to AXRoleDescription="header"

"header" or "heading"? The latter would be trivial, the former wouldn't be much more work.

Dominic, what do you think about this?

[Steve Faulkner]

(In reply to comment #1)
> (In reply to comment #0)
> > Currently the HTML5 header element has an AXRoleDescription="banner". This is the same description as for the ARIA banner landmark role. 
> 
> The current behavior for the `header` element is slightly more complex: if the `header` element is not contained within an `article` or `section` element, it has a description of "banner". If it is contained in one of those elements, it falls back to "group".
> 
> Regardless of what we do with this bug, we should test that behavior. Same goes for the `footer` element. I'll throw a patch up under https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=88911 
> 
> > Suggest changing to AXRoleDescription="header"
> 
> "header" or "heading"? The latter would be trivial, the former wouldn't be much more work.
> 
> Dominic, what do you think about this?

Hi Mike, 

> The current behavior for the `header` element is slightly more complex: if >the `header` element is not contained within an `article` or `section` >element, it has a description of "banner". If it is contained in one of >those elements, it falls back to "group".

If this is the case then I think its fine as is.

[Steve Faulkner]

(In reply to comment #1)
> (In reply to comment #0)
> > Currently the HTML5 header element has an AXRoleDescription="banner". This is the same description as for the ARIA banner landmark role. 
> 
> The current behavior for the `header` element is slightly more complex: if the `header` element is not contained within an `article` or `section` element, it has a description of "banner". If it is contained in one of those elements, it falls back to "group".
> 
> Regardless of what we do with this bug, we should test that behavior. Same goes for the `footer` element. I'll throw a patch up under https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=88911 
> 
> > Suggest changing to AXRoleDescription="header"
> 
> "header" or "heading"? The latter would be trivial, the former wouldn't be much more work.
> 
> Dominic, what do you think about this?

tested with this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/377471/tests/header-role.html

works as you described
header not in artcile or section = banner
header in article/section = group

[Mike West]

(In reply to comment #3)
> tested with this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/377471/tests/header-role.html
> 
> works as you described
> header not in artcile or section = banner
> header in article/section = group

Cool. If you're happy with that behavior, I'll close this bug. I've uploaded some tests to https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=88911 to ensure that this behavior doesn't change accidentally in the future.

[Steve Faulkner]

(In reply to comment #4)
> (In reply to comment #3)
> > tested with this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/377471/tests/header-role.html
> > 
> > works as you described
> > header not in artcile or section = banner
> > header in article/section = group
> 
> Cool. If you're happy with that behavior, I'll close this bug. I've uploaded some tests to https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=88911 to ensure that this behavior doesn't change accidentally in the future.

I'm cool with it, also tested footer works the same, nice one!

[James Craig]

Related to bug 109013.