Roles

WAI-ARIA: Role=None

Authored By :Raghavendra Satish Peri Last Updated :April 23, 2024 Roles

WAI-ARIA: Role=None

An element whose implicit native role semantics will not be mapped to the accessibility API.

Description

New in ARIA 1.1

An element whose implicit native role semantics will not be mapped to the accessibility API. See synonym presentation.

Note: Note regarding the ARIA 1.1 none role.§

In ARIA 1.1, the working group introduced none as a synonym to the presentation role, due to author confusion surrounding the intended meaning of the word “presentation” or “presentational.” Many individuals erroneously consider role=”presentation” to be synonymous with aria-hidden=”true”, and we believe role=”none” conveys the actual meaning more unambiguously.

Until implementations include sufficient support for role=”none”, web authors are advised to use the presentation role alone role=”presentation” or redundantly as a fallback to the none role role=”none presentation”.

Role=None Example

HTML Example

<nav aria-label="Mythical University"><ul id="menubar1"role="menubar"aria-label="Mythical University"><li><a role="menuitem"aria-haspopup="true"aria-expanded="false"href="#"tabindex="0">About</a><ul role="menu" aria-label="About"><li role="none">
<a role="menuitem"href="/mb-about.html#overview"tabindex="-1">Overview</a></li><li role="none">
<a role="menuitem"href="/mb-about.html#admin"tabindex="-1">Administration…
</li></ul></nav><script type="text/javascript">var menubar = new Menubar(document.getElementById('menubar1'));menubar.init();</script>

Characteristics

See role presentation

Semantic HTML

No HTML element equivalent.

The role “none” was added to act as an alias for role=”presentation”, and both are the same and perform the same action. This was meant to provide clarity for those who were confused by the word “presentation.”

It was also proposed that role=”” also be available to perform the same behavior as role=”none” and role=”presentation”. However, this presented too many implicit role conflicts within browsers, assistive technologies, and framework development, so role=”” should never be used in place of role=”none” or role=”presentation”.

Reference

WAI-ARIA 1.2 Specification
Refer to the notes from the WAI-ARIA 1.2 specification for more information on role=none.

Raghavendra Satish Peri

Raghavendra Satish Peri empowers enterprises with his expertise in digital accessibility and marketing. Through his impactful work, he collaborates with both small businesses and large enterprises, spearheading digital transformation initiatives. Raghavendra is the author behind the influential Accessibility Blog hosted at DigitalA11Y.com, where he delves into the intricate realm of digital accessibility and its significance.
Passionate about fostering change within the tech landscape, Raghavendra actively inspires local tech communities through engaging meetups and mentorship. He is the driving force behind HelloA11Y.com, a vibrant platform that unites accessibility professionals, developers, and enthusiasts, propelling the adoption of accessible practices.
Beyond the digital realm, Raghavendra seeks diverse experiences. You might find him exploring various cuisines at local cafes and restaurants or immersing himself in thought-provoking audio books. His insights and musings also find a home on his Personal Blog at raghava.in, where he shares his thoughts and experiences with a wider audience.