Screen Reader Terminology Translation

Table of Contents Overview Desktop Screen Reader Terms Reading Mode Reading Cursor Interaction Mode

Overview

All screen readers perform similar functions and have similar features. However, each screen reader developer uses a different vocabulary to describe those functions. For example, all screen readers enable users to read through all elements of a web page, and they have a term they use to describe the cursor that tracks the current reading position. MacOS VoiceOver calls it the VoiceOver cursor, NVDA calls it the browse cursor, and JAWS calls it the virtual cursor.

This page defines vocabulary that enables the ARIA-AT project to describe behavioral expectations for screen readers that do not depend on the language of any specific screen reader.

Desktop Screen Reader Terms

Note:

1. ARIA-AT phase 1 scope includes only the three most popular screen readers.
2. In some cases, a definition doesn't perfectly match each screen reader but can still be understood as roughly equivalent. For instance, MacOS VoiceOver technically does not have a mode equivalent to JAWS virtual cursor mode. However, behavior of VoiceOver is sufficiently similar when quick nav keys are toggled on for the ARIA-AT project to treat the quick nav on state of VoiceOver as equivalent to JAWS virtual cursor mode.

Term	JAWS	NVDA	VoiceOver
Reading Mode	Virtual Cursor Mode	Browse Mode	Quick Nav On
#Reading Cursor	Virtual Cursor	Browse Cursor	VoiceOver Cursor
#Interaction Mode	Forms Mode	Focus Mode	Quick Nav Off

Reading Mode

Reading mode enables users to efficiently explore all the content on a web page. For instance, it enables users to read through the headings on a page by pressing the 'h' key.

When a desktop screen reader is in reading mode on a web page, it captures nearly all keyboard input. Most importantly, it captures letters, numbers, punctuation, and directional navigation keys (up, down, left, right, home, end, etc.). In reading mode, these keys move the screen reader's reading cursor, enabling the user to explore the content of the ppage.

Each screen reader provides its own set of navigation keys for moving its reading cursor. Examples of some common reading commands are:

• b moves to and reads next button
• f moves to and reads next form input
• h moves to and reads next heading

Reading Cursor

A cursor provided by the screen reader that tracks its current reading mode location. It is independent of the keyboard focus (activeElement) on a web page. Although most screen readers have the option to drag keyboard focus so that if the reading cursor moves to a focusable element, it will cause DOM focus to move to that location.

Interaction Mode

A mode where the screen reader lets keyboard input pass through to the web page. In interaction mode, screen reader users can type in an edit field or use arrow keys to navigate inside of a widget that supports arrow key navigation, such as a radio group, grid, or tree.