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How can I improve the accessibility of my HTML tables for screen readers?

Asked on Dec 10, 2025

Answer

To improve the accessibility of your HTML tables for screen readers, you should use semantic HTML elements and attributes that provide context and structure. This includes using <th> for headers, <caption> for table descriptions, and scope attributes to clarify relationships.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
    <table>
      <caption>Monthly Sales Data</caption>
      <thead>
        <tr>
          <th scope="col">Month</th>
          <th scope="col">Sales</th>
          <th scope="col">Expenses</th>
        </tr>
      </thead>
      <tbody>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">January</th>
          <td>$10,000</td>
          <td>$5,000</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">February</th>
          <td>$12,000</td>
          <td>$6,000</td>
        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>
    <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

Use <caption> to provide a brief description of the table's purpose.
Apply scope="col" to <th> elements in the header row to indicate column headers.
Use scope="row" for <th> elements in the first column of each row to mark row headers.
Ensure that tables are used for data, not layout, to maintain semantic integrity.

✅ Answered with HTML best practices.

Ask any question about HTML here... and get an instant response.

How can I improve the accessibility of my HTML tables for screen readers?

Asked on Dec 10, 2025

Answer

Additional Comment:

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