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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-14T08:12:06+00:00

I’ve been tasked with making sure a site my company has built meets WCAG

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I’ve been tasked with making sure a site my company has built meets WCAG 2 AA. I generally write accessible code, and running automated validators usually only highlights typos. I have recently switched validator however, and the new one is highlighting that many of my links don’t include title attributes. In the past I have only used the title attribute on links when the link text wasn’t entirely self-explanatory by itself.

2 questions:

  1. Is my past behaviour correct, or should I be using title attributes by default (like alt attributes on images)?
  2. How important are title attributes for accessibility really? A google around found that they may not even be used by some screen readers.
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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    According to Webaim

    The title attribute, by definition, can be used to provide advisory information. It should:

    • NOT provide vital information or information necessary for accessibility.
    • NOT provide the same information as is available in text or alternative text.
    • NOT present the obvious. If the advisory title does not provide additional, useful information, it can be removed.
    • BE used carefully on small links and navigation items because the title tooltip may cover the underlying item.
    • NOT be used as a replacement for alternative text, form labels, table
      headers, etc.
    • ALWAYS be used on the frame element

    So essentially you’ve been on the right path. Being more aware of whether or not it is truly accessible is more important than making sure it passes all automatic validators

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