Assistive technology
Test Form Labels and Errors with NVDA
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
Purpose and preparation
Review a form in NVDA from initial instructions through error recovery. Use fictional information and a test endpoint. The useful result is a record of names, requirements, validation feedback and whether the user can complete the task.
A practical example
A permit form asks for an email address and a permit type. Submit it once empty and once with a malformed address before testing a valid submission.
How to check it
- Read the instructions in browse mode, then navigate into each form control. Record the announced label, type, required state and any description.
- Enter deliberately invalid test data and submit. Check where focus lands and whether errors identify both the problem and the field needing correction.
- Correct the fields without losing valid information. Confirm the success message is announced and does not require searching the entire page.
What can be missed
Reading only the labels misses conditional questions, disabled states, error summaries and completion feedback. Browser-native validation and custom validation may announce differently.
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.
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
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.