Frames must have a descriptive title

Rule frame-title · Document, language & navigation · impact serious · Static + live

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Why it matters#

Screen-reader users land on an iframe and hear only "frame" — without a title they must enter it to find out whether it holds a video player, a map, or an ad. A generic name ("frame", "widget", a URL) is as unhelpful as none.

How to fix#

Add title="…" naming the frame’s content (e.g. "Product demo video"). Hide purely decorative or tracking frames with aria-hidden="true" and tabindex="-1".

Example#

<iframe src="https://maps.example.com/store"></iframe>

<iframe src="https://maps.example.com/store" title="Map of store locations"></iframe>

Example#

<iframe src="/player" title="frame"></iframe>

<iframe src="/player" title="Product demo video"></iframe>

WCAG success criteria#

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value — Level A#

Every UI component must expose a correct name, role, and (where relevant) state/value to assistive technology.

Understanding 4.1.2

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks — Level A#

Provide a way (skip link, landmarks, headings) to bypass repeated blocks like navigation.

Understanding 2.4.1

Standards#

This rule contributes to the following standards:

WCAG A EN 301 549 Section 508 Trusted Tester

References#

• WCAG — Name, Role, Value