# Element “a” is missing one or more of the following attributes: “aria-checked”, “href”, “role”.
> Canonical HTML version: https://rocketvalidator.com/html-validation/element-a-is-missing-one-or-more-of-the-following-attributes-aria-checked-href-role
> Attribution: Rocket Validator (https://rocketvalidator.com)
> License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
An `` element without an `href` attribute can't use `aria-selected` unless it also has a `role` that supports the selected state.
Only four roles support `aria-selected`: `tab`, `option`, `row` and `gridcell`. An `` with an `href` has the `link` role, and one without `href` is a placeholder with the `generic` role. Neither has a selected state, so the attribute tells assistive technology nothing it can use. An anchor without `href` also can't receive keyboard focus, which leaves keyboard users unable to reach it.
The error usually comes from tabs or filter buttons built from bare `` tags, where a script moves `aria-selected="true"` to the active item. The message also lists `aria-checked` and `href`, but adding either one only swaps this error for another: links don't support `aria-selected`, and `aria-checked` doesn't stand in for the missing role.
For tabs, give each tab `role="tab"`, wrap the group in a `role="tablist"` container and point each tab at its `role="tabpanel"` with `aria-controls`. A `