HTML table has missing cells Accessibility Checkpoint

Description

Some table header cells have no corresponding data cells.

Help

Add td cells so every header has at least one corresponding data cell, use colspan or rowspan where cells span several columns or rows, or remove header cells for columns that contain no data.

Applicable standards

• ACT Rules d0f69e
• WCAG 2.0 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.1 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.2 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• Section 508 (2017) (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• EN 301 549 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)

Note: Section 508 Refresh (2017) checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.0 level A and level AA checkpoints. EN 301 549 checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.1 level A and level AA checkpoints.

Change history

• 2026.60 Apr 2026 Improved detection.
• 6.53 Jul 2024 Aligned table processing with current HTML standard.
• 6.41 Jul 2021 Improved detection.
• 6.40 Jan 2021 Fixed false positive.
• 5.37 May 2020 Added.

This page describes a web site issue detected in HTML documents by SortSite Desktop and OnDemand Suite.

Rule ID: AccHtmlTableMissingCells