- Success Criterion 1.3.1
- Conformance level A
Table Header Cells Left Completely Blank
1.3.1 — Info and Relationships
Scenario
Setting
A job board's application form
What’s wrong
Empty table header cells (header-cell code (th) with no text) leaving columns/rows unnamed for header–cell association.
Example
<div class="heading">Shipping Address</div>Why it matters
Screen-reader, braille, and reading-tool users who depend on coded structure rather than visual layout.
How to test
Navigate a data table with a screen reader's table mode: empty th cells announce as blank column/row names — check every header cell has text.
How to fix
Fill every header-cell code (th) with header text (or use td for cells that aren't headers).
<h2>Shipping Address</h2>A real heading element exposes the section structure to assistive tech; a styled div doesn't.
Outcome
On a job board's application form, this barrier is gone for screen-reader, braille — they get the same result as anyone else here.
Who is affected
Screen-reader, braille, and reading-tool users who depend on coded structure rather than visual layout.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Text Styled to Look Like a Heading Instead of Coded as One
- Text Columns Faked With Spaces Instead of Real Table Markup
- Table Layout Faked With Spaces Instead of Real Table Code
- Clickable Div Acting as a Link Button With No Real Role
- Structural HTML Tags Used Purely for Visual Styling
- Layout-Only Table Wrongly Coded With Real Header Cells