missing-semantic-data-table

Description

Content written to represent tabular data must be marked up using semantic <table> elements. Non-tabular content should not be presented as tables, as this can mislead users of assistive technologies.

The missing-semantic-data-table rule aligns with WCAG Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships), which requires that information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation must be programmatically determinable.

Examples

In the following example, tabular data is incorrectly presented using non-semantic elements:

In the corrected example, the same data is properly marked up using a semantic <table> structure:

How to fix?

To fix violations of the missing-semantic-data-table rule, follow these steps:

1. Identify content visually presented as tabular data.
2. Ensure the content is marked up using semantic <table> elements, including <tr>, <th>, and <td> as appropriate.
3. Do not use non-semantic elements (e.g., <div>) to represent tabular data.

Reference

• WCAG Success Criterion 1.3.1: Info and Relationships
• Technique H51