• Success Criterion 4.1.2
  • Conformance level A

Control Announcing a State That Contradicts Its Real Behavior

4.1.2 — Name, Role, Value

Scenario

Setting

A coworking-space booking app

What’s wrong

A control announces a false state that contradicts its actual behavior. 'read-only' on an interactive combobox, 'collapsed' while visibly expanded, 'disabled' while fully active, so assistive technology users skip or mistrust working controls.

Example

Picture a coworking-space booking app: a control announces a false state that contradicts its actual behavior. 'read-only' on an interactive combobox, 'collapsed' while visibly expanded, 'disabled' while fully active, so assistive technology users skip or mistrust working controls.

Why it matters

Screen-reader and voice-control users who can operate only what the accessibility tree exposes. Here, on a coworking-space booking app, the result is they hit a dead end with no way forward.

How to test

Compare the control's announced state to its actual behavior with a screen reader: 'read-only' announced on a working combobox, or 'collapsed' while visibly expanded, is a false state and fails.

How to fix

Correct the state wiring so announced state always matches actual behavior (interactive ≠ read-only, expanded ≠ collapsed).

Outcome

After the fix, the same visitor to a coworking-space booking app can now move past the barrier without workarounds.

Who is affected

Screen-reader and voice-control users who can operate only what the accessibility tree exposes.

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