aria `svg` element in HTML-AAM, SVG-AAM and WAI-ARIA Graphics Module specs

This is an intended duplicated issue already raised in SVG-AAM repo 4 years ago, but I opened it to gain traction on this topic since it affects quite heavily tool vendors.

Current specs:

ARIA in HTML maps the <svg> element to role="graphics-document"
SVG AAM set the default platform WAI-ARIA role mappings to "graphics-document"
WAI-ARIA Graphics Module requires role="graphics-document" to have an acc name

Concerns:

Currently, different AT don't expose the svg element to the user unless it has an acc name, ignoring the browsers computed role
Currently, browsers are exposing svg elements differently (see last WPT test)
Web authors expect svg not to be exposed by default; if authors have to follow current specs, they are forced to either set an accessible name, or role=none to each svg element, even if the svg doesn't convey any information.

Proposal:

expose svg with computed role=none if no acc name (similarly as img element with empty alt)
otherwise graphics-document

Feb 07 '25 15:02 giacomo-petri

This is an intended duplicated issue already raised in SVG-AAM repo 4 years ago,

Which one? I see https://github.com/w3c/svg-aam/issues/38 but that's much younger.

FWIW I would remove the label "duplicate" since this is more like a meta issue. Then we can collect the various issues that are related.

Feb 07 '25 15:02 pkra

Ah, maybe https://github.com/w3c/svg-aam/issues/12 ?

Feb 07 '25 15:02 pkra

Yes, sorry, it was meant to be a placeholder to be replaced with the link, but I forgot to do it. Thanks @pkra

Feb 07 '25 15:02 giacomo-petri

Should we deal with this just like we do section and role=region?

Feb 11 '25 18:02 jnurthen

Discussed in today's meeting: https://www.w3.org/2025/02/13-aria-minutes.html#465f

Feb 13 '25 19:02 spectranaut

After talking with @pkra, added deep-dive label to setup a deep dive during our next meeting this Thursday.

Feb 17 '25 09:02 giacomo-petri

Schedule deep dive in mid/late March

Feb 20 '25 18:02 spectranaut

Tentatively scheduling for March 20th.

Feb 27 '25 18:02 spectranaut

Also to discuss these WPT test results...

Feb 27 '25 18:02 cookiecrook

and these remaining interop-accessibility task issues

Mar 20 '25 17:03 cookiecrook

@giacomo-petri or @cookiecrook or @jnurthen -- can someone summarize the conclusions of the deep dive? Thanks! :)

Mar 27 '25 16:03 spectranaut

According to the AI summary of the meeting, the next steps are:

Giacomo to create a pull request for the proposal to expose Svg as graphics document only when it has an accessible name, otherwise expose as generic or ignored.
Giacomo to develop additional Web Platform Tests (WPT) for complex SVG cases not currently covered in existing tests.
James Craig to investigate how changing the role of SVG elements might impact browser-based computer vision features for accessibility.
James Craig to review and potentially update existing WPT tests for SVG accessibility to ensure they cover all necessary scenarios.
Giacomo to compile a list of real-world examples demonstrating the impact of SVG accessibility issues on user experience, particularly in e-commerce scenarios.

Mar 27 '25 22:03 spectranaut

Hello!

I'm quite busy these weeks, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to tackle points 1 and 2. In the meantime, I'd like to address point 5 by sharing some screenshots that highlight how svgs used as icons impact people (I'm currently using VO on Chrome):

Icons in the header of an e-commerce website (and beyond) are announced as empty images

Icons in the header of another e-commerce website (and beyond) are announced as empty images

Icons in a search page are announced as empty images

This is quite common, you could pick a random website and likely find the same issue.

Mar 31 '25 10:03 giacomo-petri