- Success Criterion 2.4.6
- Conformance level AA
Form Label Like ‘Field 1’ That Doesn’t Describe Its Purpose
2.4.6 — Headings and Labels
Scenario
Setting
An e-book reader's library page
What’s wrong
Labels that don't describe the field's purpose: "Field 1", bare "*", "Enter value".
Example
On an e-book reader's library page, a visitor hits this wall: labels that don't describe the field's purpose: "Field 1", bare "*", "Enter value".
Why it matters
Everyone, especially screen-reader users and people who skim headings/labels for orientation. In this case (an e-book reader's library page), they lose track of what belongs to what.
How to test
Read field labels like 'Field 1' or a bare '*' out of context: if they don't describe what to enter, they fail.
How to fix
The heading or label must describe its section's topic or the control's purpose, distinguishably from its siblings.
Outcome
Once corrected, an e-book reader's library page lets them move through the content with confidence.
Who is affected
Everyone, especially screen-reader users and people who skim headings/labels for orientation.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Heading or Label That Fails to Describe Its Own Purpose
- Generic Section Heading Like ‘Introduction’ That Says Nothing
- Identical Headings Repeated Over Completely Different Content
- Same Label Used for Two Different Fields on One Form
- Clever Marketing Heading That Hides What a Section Actually Does
- Button Labeled ‘OK’ on a Destructive, Irreversible Action