Summary must have discernible text

Serious

What is the problem?

The summary element is often used to provide a summary of a group of elements, such as a details element. The summary-name rule ensures that the summary element has visible text that can be read by screen readers.

Impacted Groups

Blind
Deafblind

Why is this important?

Screen reader users rely on the summary text to understand the purpose of the group of elements. Without visible summary text, they may miss important information or be unable to navigate the content effectively.

How to solve this issue

To fix this issue, you can ensure the summary element contains visible text. Alternatively, you can use attributes such as title, aria-label or aria-labelledby. By providing a clear and accessible label for the summary element, you ensure that all users can understand its purpose.

Rule Information

Rule ID

summary-name

Severity

Serious

Manual Review Required

Yes

Rule Group

WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA Rules

Guidelines

  • WCAG 2.1 (A)
  • WCAG 2.0 (A)
  • WCAG 2.2 (A)
  • Section 508
  • Trusted Tester
  • EN 301 549

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