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

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

Post this Question & Answer:

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

Asked on Dec 23, 2025

Answer

To improve the accessibility of HTML tables for screen readers, use semantic elements and attributes like <caption>, <thead>, <tbody>, <th>, and the scope attribute to provide context and structure.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
    <table>
      <caption>Monthly Sales Report</caption>
      <thead>
        <tr>
          <th scope="col">Month</th>
          <th scope="col">Sales</th>
          <th scope="col">Profit</th>
        </tr>
      </thead>
      <tbody>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">January</th>
          <td>$10,000</td>
          <td>$2,000</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">February</th>
          <td>$12,000</td>
          <td>$2,500</td>
        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>
    <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

The <caption> element provides a title for the table, which is read by screen readers.
Use <thead> and <tbody> to separate the table header from the body, improving navigation.
The scope attribute in <th> elements clarifies whether the header is for a column or a row.

✅ 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 23, 2025

Answer

Additional Comment:

The Q&A Network