Start scanning free

( Robust / WCAG 4.1.3 )

Status messages are not announced to assistive tech

This check maps to Status Messages. Use the guidance below to confirm the issue, understand who it affects and ship a fix.

Serious Level AA WCAG 4.1.3 — Status Messages

What’s wrong

A dynamic success or error message is added visually but not exposed to assistive technology.

Why it matters

Screen reader users may never hear the update after submitting a form. They can miss success confirmations or critical error feedback.

How to fix it

Use semantic HTML and valid ARIA so assistive technology gets the same state and structure as sighted users. Keep labels and states explicit in markup.

Before
<div id="status"></div>
<script>status.textContent='Saved';</script>
After
<div id="status" role="status" aria-live="polite"></div>
<script>status.textContent='Saved';</script>

If this pattern is generated by a component, fix it once in the shared component so every instance inherits the accessible behavior.

Learn more