ARIA Landmark role tests - Firefox 3 & Internet Explorer 8 + Assistive Technology

Results detail what is announced when each element with the landmark role indicated in brackets receives (virtual focus).

Software used for testing

Windows Vista
Firefox 3.04
Internet Explorer 8
JAWS 9.0
JAWS 10.0
Window Eyes 7.0
ZoomText 9.1 (magnifier/reader)
NVDA 0.6p2

Notes for Table 1

There was no oberservable difference in behaviour between Firefox and Internet Explorer. Although when the MSAA role value is checked, Firefox exposes the correct role values, while IE exposes a value of "grouping" for all landmark roles.
For all results the addition of the role attribute on the content container did not have any observable detrimental effect upon the announcing or navigation of content.
The landmark roles incuded for testing are those described as landmark roles in the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA), 12 January 2009.
The elements with the landmark role attributes were tested in virtual mode only (for JAWS, Window Eyes & NVDA)
For JAWS 10 landmark keyboard navigation in virtual mode is:
- next landmark ; (semi-colon)
- previous landmark SHIFT + ; (semi-colon)
- list landmarks CTRL + INS + ; (semi-colon)
role="application" has recently been added to the list of roles defined as landmarks, this role has noit been tested.

Table 1 Landmark role test results
ARIA Role	Expected or Suggested Behaviour	JAWS 9	JAWS 10	ZoomText	Window Eyes 7	NVDA
[banner] A region that contains the primary heading or Web site title. Most of the content of a banner is site-oriented, rather than being page-specific. Site-oriented content typically includes things such as the logo of the site sponsor, the main heading for the page, and site-specific search tool. Typically this appears at the top of the page spanning the full width.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	"banner landmark" + text note: no keyboard support	"banner landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox" note: announcement of role as "groupbox" should not be problematic for users.	role not announced	role not announced
[complementary] Any section of the document that supports but is separable from the main content, but is meaningful on its own even when separated from it.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	role not announced	"complementary landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox"	role not announced	role not announced
[contentinfo] Meta information which applies to the first immediate ancestor whose role is not presentation. In the context of the page this would apply to a section or the page of which it is the child. For example, footnotes, copyrights, links to privacy statements, etc. would belong here.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	"content info landmark" + text note: no keyboard support	"contentinfo landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox"	role not announced	role not announced
[main] Main content in a document. This marks the content that is directly related to or expands upon the central topic of the page.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	"main landmark" + text note: no keyboard support	"main landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox"	role not announced	role not announced
[navigation] A collection of links suitable for use when navigating the document or related documents.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	"navigation landmark" + text note: no keyboard support	"navigation landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox"	role not announced	role not announced
[search] The search tool of a web document. This is typically a form used to submit search requests about the site or to a more general Internet search service.	Role and text announced + keyboard navigation	"search landmark" + text note: no keyboard support	"search landmark" + text + keyboard navigation	text + "groupbox"	role not announced	role not announced