• Success Criterion 2.4.2
  • Conformance level A

Embedded Document or Frame Used as a Page With No Title

2.4.2 — Page Titled

Scenario

Setting

A public library's catalog search

What’s wrong

Iframes aside: framesets/embedded documents relied on as pages lacking titles.

Example

<frameset>
  <frame src="results.html">
</frameset>
<!-- results.html has no title element of its own -->

Why it matters

A patron who bookmarks or reopens the catalog results frame sees no distinguishing title for what they searched.

How to test

Check any frameset or embedded document relied on as a standalone page: if it has no title element, it fails.

How to fix

Give every framed document its own title; the outer frameset's title alone isn't enough.

<!-- results.html -->
<title>Search Results: "local history" - Library Catalog</title>

Outcome

Reopening a saved catalog search, a patron recognizes it right away by its title.

Who is affected

Screen reader users navigating frame-based pages get no title announcement identifying the results frame's content.

Learn more