Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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# F46: Failure of Success Criterion 1.3.1 due to using `th` elements, `caption` elements, or non-empty `summary` attributes in layout tables

## Applicability

HTML and XHTML

This failure relates to:

- Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
  - How to Meet 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
  - Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)

## Description

The objective of this technique is to describe a failure that occurs when a table used only for layout includes either `th` elements, a `summary` attribute, or a `caption` element. This is a failure because it uses structural (or semantic) markup only for presentation. The intent of the HTML and XHTML table elements is to present data.

Although not commonly used in a layout table, the following structural markup would also be failures of Success Criterion 1.3.1 if used in a layout table:

- `headers` attributes

- `scope` attributes

Assistive technologies use the structure of an HTML or XHTML table to present data to the user in a logical manner. The `th` element is used to mark the column and row headers of the table. A screen reader uses the information in `th` elements to speak the header information that changes as the user navigates the table. The summary attribute on the `table` element provides a textual description of the table that describes its purpose and function. Assistive technologies make the `summary` attribute information available to users. The `caption` element is part of the table and identifies the table.

Although WCAG 2 does not prohibit the use of layout tables, CSS-based layouts are recommended in order to retain the defined semantic meaning of the HTML table elements and to conform to the coding practice of separating presentation from content. When a table is used for layout purposes the `th` element should not be used. Since the table is not presenting data there is no need to mark any cells as column or row headers. Likewise, there is no need for an additional description of a table which is only used to layout content. Do not include a `summary` attribute and do not use the `summary` attribute to describe the table as, for instance, "layout table". When spoken, this information does not provide value and will only distract users navigating the content via a screen reader. Empty `summary` attributes are acceptable on layout tables, but not recommended.

## Examples

### Failure Example 1

Here is a simple example that uses a table to layout content in a three column format. The navigation bar is in the left column, the main content in the middle column, and an additional sidebar is on the right. At the top is a page title. The example marks the page title as `<th>`, and provides a summary attribute indicating that the table is a layout table.

Example Code:

     <table summary="layout table">
     <tr>
       <th colspan=3>Page Title</th>
     </tr>
     <tr>
       <td><div>navigation content</div></td>
       <td><div>main content</div></td>
       <td><div>right sidebar content</div></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
       <td colspan=3>footer</td>
     </tr>
     </table>

## Resources

No resources available for this technique.

## Related Techniques

- H39: Using caption elements to associate data table captions with data tables
- H51: Using table markup to present tabular information
- H73: Using the summary attribute of the table element to give an overview of data tables

## Tests

### Procedure

1. Examine the source code of the HTML or XHTML document for the `table` element

2. If the table is used only to visually lay out elements within the content

   1. Check that the table does not contain any `th` elements.

   2. Check that the `table` element does not contain a non-empty summary attribute.

   3. Check that the `table` element does not contain a `caption` element.

### Expected Results

- If any check above is false, then this failure condition applies and the content fails the Success Criterion.

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