Both tables and lists structure content and make it easier for users to read text and understand data. They also are an alternative way to represent data in most charts and graphs.
For screen reader users to easily access a list or table, it needs the correct HTML behind it. Otherwise, tables and lists are difficult or even impossible to make sense of with a screen reader. Once you know what needs to be there, it’s easy to create accessible tables and lists every time.
To see all our topics, check out Pope Tech’s Monthly Accessibility Focus topics.
Featured table and list resources
A beginner’s guide to lists and how to make them accessible
Learn about the different types of lists, when to use lists, and how to make them accessible.
A beginner’s guide to tables and how to make them accessible
Learn the difference between data and layout tables, when to use a table, and how to make tables accessible.
Accessible graphs and charts
Learn about the accessibility considerations when creating charts and graphs and tips for making them more accessible.
More list resources
Introduction to accessible lists and a screen reader demo (YouTube)
Learn what makes lists accessible, how accessible lists impact assistive technology users, and what lists sound like using a screen reader.
Semantic Structure: Regions, Headings, and Lists
A brief introduction to lists.
Content Structure
An introduction to the different types of lists and their HTML.
More table resources
Introduction to accessible tables and a screen reader demo (YouTube)
Learn what makes tables accessible, how accessible tables impact assistive technology users, and what tables sound like using a screen reader.
Creating Accessible Tables: Data tables
Learn how to use data tables and how to create accessible data tables.
List and table result documentation
These are the WAVE results associated with lists and tables. WAVE is a free tool you can use to check a page for accessibility issues.
Possible list
What a possible list alert is and how to fix it.
Ordered list
What an ordered list is and how to review it.
Unordered list
What an unordered list is and how to review it.
Definition/Descriptive list
What a definition/descriptive list is and how to review it.
Empty table header
What a empty table header error is and how to fix it.
Layout table
What a layout table alert is and how to fix it.
Possible table caption
What a possible table caption alert is and how to fix it.
Data table
What a data table element is and how to review it.
Table caption
What a table caption element is and how to review it.
Table header cell
What a table header cell element is and how to review it.
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