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).
Required No for HTML4 Legacy Techniques ruleset mapping
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