Recommended practice Priority: Minor
A table's caption and summary repeat the same text
A table has the same text in its <caption> and in its summary attribute, so screen readers may read it twice. This is a recommended practice beyond the WCAG 2.2 AA level.
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Why it matters to your customers
Screen reader users hear the same table title twice before the content, for example on a size chart or shipping table. It is a minor annoyance, but repeated text makes the page feel cluttered and slower to use.
Who is affected
- screen reader users
How to fix it
Keep the visible title in <caption>. Remove the summary attribute, which is obsolete in HTML5. If a complex table needs an explanation of its structure, put it in the caption or in text next to the table, not as a copy of the title.
On Shopify
Usually from tables pasted into product descriptions or pages, or from a size chart app. Remove the summary attribute in the editor's code view or ask the app developer.
On Shoptet (CZ)
Usually in product descriptions or page texts. Remove the summary attribute in the editor's source view.
On PrestaShop
Usually in product descriptions or module templates. Remove summary from the HTML, or override the module template in the theme.
On WooCommerce
Usually from a table plugin or HTML pasted into a description. Remove summary in the table HTML, or in the plugin's settings if it offers one.
Standards
Not a WCAG success criterion: a recommended practice that makes the site easier to use.
Automated check: axe-core rule table-duplicate-name.
dequeuniversity.com, github.com, www.w3.org