Document title, URLs, estimated publication date

ARIA in HTML

Abstract

This specification defines the authoring rules (author conformance requirements) for the use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 and Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.1 attributes on [HTML] elements. This specification's primary objective is to define requirements for use with conformance checking tools used by authors (i.e., web developers). These requirements will aid authors in their development of web content, including custom interfaces and widgets, which make use of ARIA to complement or extend the features of the host language [HTML].

Status

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C standards and drafts index.

ARIA in HTML is an [HTML] specification module. Any HTML features, conformance requirements, or terms that this specification module makes reference to, but does not explicitly define, are defined by the HTML Standard.

Since this specification become a W3C Recommendation on 09 December 2021, the following substantive changes have been made:

• 22 September 2025 - Correction: Clarify role and attributes for the summary element.
• 23 July 2025 - Addition: Update the label element to allow role and aria-* attributes to be specified when the element is not associated with a labelable element.
• 23 July 2025 - Addition: Add the selectedcontent element and provide updated allowances for the button element when it is used in the context of a customized select element.
• 23 July 2025 - Correction: Clarify that the html element is a generic element, and that neither the document or generic roles are recommended to be used on the element.
• 23 December 2024 - Addition: Update the img element to allow the math role.
• 13 December 2024 - Addition: Update to include the image role as preferred synonym to the img role.
• 13 December 2024 - Addition: Clarify the allowance for aria-hidden when used with the hidden attribute.
• 4 October 2023 - Addition: Update the button element and input type=button,image,reset,submit elements to allow the separator role.
• 3 October 2023 - Correction: Update the img element allowances to be based on if the element has an accessible name or not.
• 21 August 2023 - Addition: Update the address and hgroup element allowances per their updated mapping to the group role.
• 9 July 2023 - Addition: Update the aside element to allow the dpub doc-glossary role.
• 5 July 2023 - Addition: Update the button, input type=button, input type=image input type=reset, and input type=submit elements to align their allowed roles.
• 29 June 2023 - Addition: Update the s element allowed roles to indicate use of role=deletion on the element would be considered redundnat.
• 31 May 2023 - Correction: Conditionally revise allowed aria-* attributes and roles on summary element.
• 31 May 2023 - Correction: Update li element role allowances in context to the element's ancestral relationship, or lack of, to a list element parent.
• 24 March 2023 - Addition: The search element has been added.
• 6 March 2023 - Addition: Disallow aria-hidden=true on the body element.
• 13 February 2023 - Addition: Update figure element role allowances to include doc-example.
• 07 November 2022 - Correction: Revisions to 'any role' term description.
• 14 July 2022 - Correction: Disallow roles and aria-* attributes on the datalist element.
• 16 April 2022 - Correction: aria-checked is not to be used on elements that support the checked attribute.
• 03 April 2022 - Addition: Identify Naming Prohibited elements.
• 06 March 2022 - Addition: Allow none and presentation roles on nav element.
• 03 March 2022 - Addition: Restrict role allowances for div element when it is a child of a dl element.
• 12 February 2022 - Addition & Correction: Allow combobox role on button element. Allow combobox and checkbox roles on input type=button element.
• 18 January 2022 - Addition: Added Requirements for deprecated ARIA role, state and property attributes.
• 06 January 2022 - Addition: Change allowances for doc-biblioentry and doc-endnote roles on the li element. These roles are deprecated in Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.1.
• 13 December 2021 - Correction: Allow radio role on img alt="some text" element.
• 07 December 2021 - Correction: Allow only none and presentation roles for wbr element. Allow only aria-hidden global attribute for br and wbr elements.
• 02 December 2021 - Addition: Allow group role on section element.
• 16 November 2021 - Addition: Allow link and button roles on area without href element.
• 26 October 2021 - Addition: Allow aria-hidden attribute on the picture element.

For a complete list of changes made to this specification (including informative and editorial updates) see all closed pull requests on GitHub.

This document was published by the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Working Group as a Recommendation using the Recommendation track.

W3C recommends the wide deployment of this specification as a standard for the Web.

A W3C Recommendation is a specification that, after extensive consensus-building, is endorsed by W3C and its Members, and has commitments from Working Group members to royalty-free licensing for implementations. Future updates to this Recommendation may incorporate new features.

This document was produced by a group operating under the W3C Patent Policy.W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent that the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

This document is governed by the 18 August 2025 W3C Process Document.

Link to group's decision to request the update

https://www.w3.org/2026/06/18-aria-minutes.html#8984

Link to Last Call for Review of Proposed Amendments

https://www.w3.org/wbs/33280/html-aria-proposed-amendments-20260407/results/

Wide Review of Proposed Amendments

https://github.com/w3c/html-aria/issues

Issues addressed

https://github.com/w3c/html-aria/issues/?q=is:issue%20state:closed

Link to internal AC Review results

https://www.w3.org/wbs/33280/html-aria-proposed-amendments-20260407/results/

Formal Objections

None.

Implementation

https://w3c.github.io/html-aria/results/implementation-results.html

Patent disclosures

None.

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