HTML5 Accessibility Chops: hidden and aria-hidden support on the UP!

Latest Update: The state of hidden content support in 2016

At the start of 2012 I published results on the state of HTML5 hidden attribute support and aria-hidden attribute support. Based on the results, advice was provided on the best methods to hide content from some or all users.

A recent tweet has prompted a re-examination of support for these attributes in some popular browsers, screen readers and operating systems.

The state of aria-hidden (depressing stuff): http://t.co/t4Qg7Nf2TA via @wilto #a11y

— Thierry (@thierrykoblentz) November 26, 2013

support landscape is no longer depressing

• aria-hidden=true on visible content is now uniformly supported across a range of popular browsers, screen readers and OS’s
• The HTML5 hidden attribute is now supported in all major browsers.
• aria-hidden=false on hidden (via hidden attribute or CSS display:none) content is supported in some browser/AT/OS combinations.

detailed results and test cases:

Screen reader support for hidden content – November 2013

Further reading:

• HTML5 Accessibility Chops: hidden and aria-hidden
• HTML5 hidden attribute
• aria-hidden attribute

Note: in the latest tests, the Window Window Eyes screen reader was not tested, if anybody has access to it or other AT and would like to provide data from the tests cases, drop me a line.

Thanks to @patrick_h_lauke, @graemecoleman and @stommepoes for help with testing!