HTML Validation

The “button” role is unnecessary for element “summary”.

About This HTML Issue

The <summary> HTML element specifies a clickable summary, caption, or legend for a <details> element’s disclosure box. As the <summary> element has an implicit button role, it’s not needed to include it explicitly.

Here’s an example, clicking the <summary> element toggles the state of the parent <details> element open and closed.

<details>
    <summary>I have keys but no doors. I have space but no room. You can enter but can’t leave. What am I?</summary>
    A keyboard.
</details>

Learn more:

→ MDN: summary element
→ MDN: ARIA button role

Last reviewed: October 27, 2022

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Reading time

1 min read

Category

HTML Validation

Engine

W3C Validator

Last reviewed

October 27, 2022

Resources

Related W3C Validator Issues

The “summary” attribute on the “table” element is obsolete. Consider describing the structure of the “table” in a “caption” element or in a “figure” element containing the “table”; or, simplify the structure of the “table” so that no description is needed.

To resolve the W3C Validator issue regarding the obsolete summary attribute on the table element, you should remove the summary attribute and instead provide a description of the table structure using a caption element.

Here’s how you can fix it:

Remove the summary attribute: This attribute is no longer supported in modern HTML standards.
Add a caption element: This element gives a brief description of the table, making it accessible and informing users what the table represents.

Example Before and After

Before Fixing (with obsolete summary attribute)

<table summary="This table shows the sales data for the year.">
    <tr>
        <th>Month</th>
        <th>Sales</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>January</td>
        <td>$1000</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>February</td>
        <td>$1200</td>
    </tr>
</table>

After Fixing (with caption element)

<table>
    <caption>Sales Data for the Year</caption>
    <tr>
        <th>Month</th>
        <th>Sales</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>January</td>
        <td>$1000</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>February</td>
        <td>$1200</td>
    </tr>
</table>

Additional Option: Using a figure Element

If you want to provide a more extensive description alongside your table, you can wrap the table in a figure element.

Example with figure

<figure>
    <figcaption>Sales Data for the Year</figcaption>
    <table>
        <tr>
            <th>Month</th>
            <th>Sales</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>January</td>
            <td>$1000</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>February</td>
            <td>$1200</td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</figure>

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