Structure & headings

A Table Cell's Headers Attribute Points to the Wrong Cells

When a cell's `headers` list names cells that aren't headers in the same table, screen reader users don't hear which row or column the data belongs to.

td-headers-attrWCAG 2.0Introduced in WCAG 2.0.Level AA — the minimum. Missing it blocks people outright.

Status: SeriousSerious — Significant friction, or information that is lost.CurrentScanners run this rule today.
Owner: DevContentTest
Audit: Automated+ManualA scanner finds it; a person confirms the fix.

Why it matters

In complex tables, the headers attribute links each data cell to its headings by their id. A screen reader reads those headings aloud before the data, so people know what a number means.

If the id doesn't exist, or belongs to another table or a plain data cell, the link breaks. People hear a lone number, like "42", with no idea what it measures.

Who it affects

Who it affects, and how much
Who	What they experience	Impact
Screen reader users	They hear the data, like "$120", but not the row and column headings that explain it.	High impact
Low-vision users (magnification)	Affected only if they also use a screen reader; zoom users can still see the headings.	Partial impact

Business & product impact

Business & product impact, with how much each claim weighs
Area	Why	Impact
Legal	It fails WCAG 1.3.1 at Level A, the minimum. Australia's Disability Discrimination Act and EN 301 549 both point to WCAG.	High impact
Conversion	Pricing, timetable and comparison tables are useless if people can't tell which column a figure sits in.	Moderate impact
SEO	Search engines don't use `headers` links. No real search benefit.	Low impact
Brand trust	Data-heavy pages, like reports and fees, are often where people need trust the most.	Moderate impact
Cost to fix	Usually a quick fix of mismatched `id` values. Generated tables need a fix in the template.	High impact

Fixing it in code

A headers attribute that points to a missing id

Don't

<table>
  <tr><th id="plan">Plan</th><th id="price">Price</th></tr>
  <tr><th id="basic">Basic</th><td headers="basic cost">$10</td></tr>
</table>

A screen reader says: “$10”

<table>
  <tr><th id="plan">Plan</th><th id="price">Price</th></tr>
  <tr><th id="basic">Basic</th><td headers="basic price">$10</td></tr>
</table>

A screen reader says: “Basic, Price, $10”

Every id in headers now matches a th in the same table.

A headers attribute that points to a data cell

Don't

<tr><td id="q1">Q1</td><td headers="q1">$4,000</td></tr>

A screen reader says: “$4,000”

<tr><th id="q1" scope="row">Q1</th><td headers="q1">$4,000</td></tr>

A screen reader says: “Q1, $4,000”

headers must point to header cells, so make the heading a th.

Designer's handoff note

Keep tables simple where you can — one row of column headings and one column of row headings. Simple tables don't need headers at all.

If a table must have grouped or nested headings, mark which heading cells label each data cell in the handover.

Quick test

Tool

NVDA (opens in a new tab) (free on Windows)

Checklist

Step 1: Turn NVDA on and open the page.
Step 2: Press T to jump to the table.
Step 3: Hold Ctrl and Alt, then use the arrow keys to move between cells.
Step 4: Listen as you enter each new row and column.

Pass: You hear the right row and column headings before each value.
Fail: You hear only the value, or headings that don't match what you see.

What a green scan still misses

A scanner checks that each id points to a header in the same table. It can't tell if it's the right header — for that, listen cell by cell.

Reference

Rule ID: td-headers-attr
Raised by: axe-core: “Table cell headers attributes must refer to other <th> elements in the same table”
WCAG: 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (opens in a new tab) · Level A · since WCAG 2.0
Other standards: EN 301 549 9.1.3.1 · RGAA 5.7.4
Read more: Deque University: td-headers-attr (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: 14 October 2026