Summary (of table)
This term is defined by more than one standard, and the wording differs. Each definition below is the one that applies to that standard’s criteria.
Definition in RAWeb 1.1
A summary (of table) is a passage of text associated with a complex data table. It provides information about the nature and structure of the table to make it easier to use for users of assistive technologies, for example.
Note: in HTML5, the only technique that can currently be used is to insert the summary directly into the title (using the <caption> tag), masking the summary using CSS if necessary.
In previous versions of HTML, the summary could be inserted via a summary attribute on the <table> tag.
In the case of a tag with the WAI-ARIA role="table" attribute, the summary must be provided using an aria-describedby attribute and be correctly rendered (by assistive technologies).
Definition in RAAM 1.1
A summary (of table) is a passage of text associated with a complex data table. It provides information about the nature and structure of the table to make it easier to use for users of assistive technologies, for example.
Note: although the main users affected are those using screen readers, other users may also benefit from this information, such as certain people with visual or intellectual impairments. In this case, the summary, although hidden by default, should be made visible by means of a button, for example.