Missing title attribute in anchor tag in function start_el

[sireneweb]

From usability point of view and as per WCAG guideline, each anchor tag should have title attribute.
In few of wordpress core files there are few anchor tag markup, which missed this title attribute.
For example in wp-includes/post-template.php file on line number 1345, there is code as below:

/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/post-template.php */
		$output .= $indent . sprintf(
			'<li class="%s"><a href="%s">%s%s%s</a>',
			$css_classes,
			get_permalink( $page->ID ),
			$args['link_before'],
			apply_filters( 'the_title', $page->post_title, $page->ID ),
			$args['link_after']
		);

/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/post-template.php */
		$output .= $indent . sprintf(
			'<li class="%s"><a href="%s" title="%s">%s%s%s</a>',
			$css_classes,
			get_permalink( $page->ID ),
			apply_filters( 'the_title', $page->post_title, $page->ID ),
			$args['link_before'],
			apply_filters( 'the_title', $page->post_title, $page->ID ),
			$args['link_after']
		);

[pento]

Thanks for the bug report, @sireneweb!

This was originally removed in #16783. Our accessibility experts may have some input on the best way to handle this.

[rianrietveld]

@sireneweb could you please give a link to the WCAG guideline where using a title attribute mentioned? I can't find it and for good accessibility practice all title attributes are removed from core. Screen readers omit them, and they serve no practical use other than a tooltip for desktop views.

Adding extra information using a title attribute also has the risk that you add extra information to a link, different from the content of the link, and then screen reader users miss the extra information.

I follow these advices:

• ​http://www.paciellogroup.com/blog/2012/01/html5-accessibility-chops-title-attribute-use-and-abuse/
• ​http://blog.silktide.com/2013/01/i-thought-title-text-improved-accessibility-i-was-wrong/

[sireneweb]

@rianrietveld,
maybe add a filter would be better solution to add attribute like title. I understand your position, attribute as title can be benefit to improve accessibility for deficient users.

W3C say: setting the attribute on a link allows user agents (visual and non-visual) to tell users about the nature of the linked resource.

Personnaly, i add title attributes for improve SEO and accessibility (think screen reader software). Now i prefer use filter instead Jquery code because for SEO, google doesn't take into account the elements added by javascript.

[rianrietveld]

I've been digging deeper into this:

In the HTML5 specifications it is specifically discouraged to use a title attribute.

​http://www.w3.org/TR/html51/dom.html#the-title-attribute

Quote: Relying on the title attribute is currently discouraged as many user agents do not expose the attribute in an accessible manner as required by this specification (e.g. requiring a pointing device such as a mouse to cause a tooltip to appear, which excludes keyboard-only users and touch-only users, such as anyone with a modern phone or tablet).

It is mentioned as a technique in
​http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H33.html as you refer to, but it is discouraged to use.

Don't focus on a technique, but focus on the usability for your users. H33 is a WCAG technique, not a requirement.

Using a title attribute is not concerned good accessibly or usability practice.
Most screen readers do not read a title attribute at all, for accessibility it's useless.

[sireneweb]

@rianrietveld,
thanks for your feedback, you can close the ticket i think

[obenland]

Thanks for bringing it up, sireneweb!

[rianrietveld]

@sireneweb yes, thanks for bringing it up and joining the discussion on how to make WordPress more accessible :-)