ISSUE-192: title attribute definition does not match reality

title-attribute

title attribute definition does not match reality

State:

CLOSED

Product:

HTML 5 spec

Raised by:

Steve Faulkner

Opened on:

2011-12-10

Description:

the HTML5 spec current states:

"The title attribute represents advisory information for the element, such as
would be appropriate for a tooltip. On a link, this could be the title or a
description of the target resource; on an image, it could be the image credit
or a description of the image; on a paragraph, it could be a footnote or
commentary on the text; on a citation, it could be further information about
the source; and so forth. The value is text."

The title attribute is mapped to the accessible name in all accessibility APIs
in all browsers (that implement mapping), so in the absence of other labelling
mechanisms, all HTML form controls are labelled by the title attribute content
if present. This reality is not reflected in the usage advice quoted above.

There is a WCAG technique that documents how to use the title attribute to
label controls:
H65: Using the title attribute to identify form controls when the label element
cannot be used http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H65

Suggest updating the specification text to take into account the reality of how
title is implemented in browsers.

Related Actions Items:

No related actions

Related emails:

1. RE: CfC: Publish ten heartbeat drafts as WDs (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-03-29)
2. RE: CfC: Publish ten heartbeat drafts as WDs (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-03-27)
3. Re: CfC: Publish ten heartbeat drafts as WDs (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-03-22)
4. Re: {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-22 (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-03-22)
5. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-22 (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-03-22)
6. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-22: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, revert request, F2F registration, task force reports (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-03-21)
7. Working Group Decision: Close ISSUE-192 title-attribute by Amicable Resolution (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-03-20)
8. RE: {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, other topics (from adrianba@microsoft.com on 2012-03-15)
9. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, other topics (from mjs@apple.com on 2012-03-14)
10. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, F2F meeting plans, task force reports (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-03-08)
11. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, F2F meeting plans, task force reports (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-03-08)
12. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, F2F meeting plans, task force reports (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-03-08)
13. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-08: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, F2F meeting plans, task force reports (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-03-07)
14. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-01: issue progress and heartbeat drafts (from eoconnor@apple.com on 2012-03-01)
15. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-03-01: issue progress and heartbeat drafts (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-02-29)
16. CfC: Close ISSUE-192 title-attribute by Amicable Resolution (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-02-28)
17. [Minutes] (HTML WG telecon 2012-02-23: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, task force reports) (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-02-23)
18. [Minutes] (HTML WG telecon 2012-02-23: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, task force reports) (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-02-23)
19. FW: counter proposal for issue 185 (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-02-22)
20. Re: HTML WG telecon 2012-02-16: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, task force reports (from ian@iandevlin.com on 2012-02-22)
21. HTML WG telecon 2012-02-16: issue progress, heartbeat drafts, task force reports (from mjs@apple.com on 2012-02-21)
22. [minutes] HTML WG telecon 2012-02-16: issue progress (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-02-16)
23. HTML WG telecon 2012-02-16: issue progress (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-02-15)
24. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-26: issue progress, task force reports, other business (from eoconnor@apple.com on 2012-01-26)
25. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-26: issue progress, task force reports, other business (from janina@rednote.net on 2012-01-25)
26. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-26: issue progress, task force reports, other business (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-01-25)
27. ISSUE-192: title-attribute - Chairs Solicit Alternate Proposals or Counter-Proposals (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2012-01-25)
28. HTML WG Minutes (Re: {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-19: issue progress, other business) (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-01-19)
29. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-19: issue progress, other business (from janina@rednote.net on 2012-01-18)
30. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-19: issue progress, other business (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2012-01-18)
31. ISSUE-192: title attribute definition does not match reality - change proposal (from faulkner.steve@gmail.com on 2012-01-17)
32. Re: HTML5 design philosophy disconnect (from faulkner.steve@gmail.com on 2012-01-13)
33. HTML WG minutes (Re: {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-12: issue progress, other business) (from mjs@apple.com on 2012-01-12)
34. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2012-01-12: issue progress, other business (from mjs@apple.com on 2012-01-12)
35. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2011-12-15: issue progress, editor's drafts, speech xg (from eoconnor@apple.com on 2011-12-15)
36. {agenda} HTML WG telecon 2011-12-15: issue progress, editor's drafts, speech xg (from mjs@apple.com on 2011-12-14)
37. ISSUE-192: title-attribute - Chairs Solicit Proposals (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2011-12-10)
38. Re: HTML-ISSUE-192: title attribute definition does not match reality [HTML 5 spec] (from faulkner.steve@gmail.com on 2011-12-10)
39. RE: HTML-ISSUE-192: title attribute definition does not match reality [HTML 5 spec] (from Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com on 2011-12-10)
40. HTML-ISSUE-192: title attribute definition does not match reality [HTML 5 spec] (from sysbot+tracker@w3.org on 2011-12-10)

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