Do not override footer element role. (Deprecated)

Rule ID Role 9
Definition Overriding a footer element's default role of contentinfo landmark must only be done in special cases. NOTE: Deprecated in favor of HTML 3 a more general rule on role restrictions based on ARIA in HTML specification.
Purpose
  • A top-level footer element has role restrictions as part of its definition in the W3C HTML5 Specification to help ensure the footer element semantics of identifying contentinfo landmark content.
  • A top-level footer element should only use role="presentation" if the content of the footer element is not being used to identify contentinfo landmark content (e.g. repairing poor page semantics).
Mappings
  • HTML4 Legacy Techniques (Recommended)
  • HTML5 and ARIA Techniques (Recommended)
WCAG Success Criteria

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A, Primary Success Criterion)

Other Related Success Criterion:

Rule Category Styling/Content
Scope Element
Target Resources footer elements
  • footer
Techniques
  • The top level footer element with no role value by default defines a contentinfo landmark, but the role="contentinfo" is allowed to support legacy pages.
  • If the top level footer element does not identify a contentinfo landmark content use a different element that does identify the semantics of the content.
  • In rare cases role="presentation" can be used when the footer element does not represent the contentinfo landmark content on the page (e.g. repairing poor page semantics).
  • Any other role values are not allowed on footer elements.
Informational Links