Data and collections

Accessible data tables: Examples and Testing

Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated September 11, 2026

What to build

Use a table when cells have meaningful row and column relationships. Identify the table's subject and associate data with its headers; complex tables need careful explicit relationships or simplification.

A practical example

A comparison table lists audit tasks by owner and due date. Column headers and row headers let someone understand “September 20” as the due date for a specific task rather than an isolated value.

How to check it

Read the caption or surrounding introduction and identify the table's purpose.
Inspect header cells and associations, then navigate representative data cells with a screen reader.
At narrow widths, keep any necessary table scrolling inside its own region while surrounding text reflows.

What can be missed

Do not use tables purely for page layout. A visual bold row is not a header association, and a complicated merged layout may be clearer as several simpler tables.

Markup and state contract

This concise markup illustrates names, relationships or state. Custom controls also need the keyboard interaction and state updates described in the checks and primary source; this snippet is not a complete component.

<table>
  <caption>Audit task assignments</caption>
  <thead><tr><th scope="col">Task</th><th scope="col">Owner</th></tr></thead>
  <tbody><tr><th scope="row">Keyboard review</th><td>Design team</td></tr></tbody>
</table>

Record your test

Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.

Page and state testedBrowser, assistive technology and date

Check 1: Read the caption or surrounding introduction and identify the table's purpose.
Check 2: Inspect header cells and associations, then navigate representative data cells with a screen reader.
Check 3: At narrow widths, keep any necessary table scrolling inside its own region while surrounding text reflows.

Evidence, exceptions and follow-up

These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.

Primary sources and scope

Primary implementation guidance

This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.