ARIA: contentinfo role

The contentinfo role defines a footer, containing identifying information such as copyright information, navigation links, and privacy statements, found on every document within a site. This section is commonly called a footer.

html

<div role="contentinfo">
  <h2>Footer</h2>
  <!-- footer content -->
</div>

This is a website footer. Using the <footer> element instead is recommended:

html

<footer>
  <h2>Footer</h2>
  <!-- footer content -->
</footer>

Description

The contentinfo role is a landmark used to identify a page footer. Landmarks can be used by assistive technology to quickly identify and navigate to large sections of the document. Pages should only include one top-level contentinfo landmark role per page.

Each page should only include one contentinfo landmark, created by either using the <footer> element or by declaring role="contentinfo". contentinfo landmarks present in content embedded via <iframe> do not count towards this limit.

Note: Using the <footer> element will automatically communicate a section has a role of contentinfo. Developers should always prefer using the correct semantic HTML element over using ARIA, making sure to test for known issues in VoiceOver.

Examples

html

<body>
  <!-- other page content -->

  <div role="contentinfo">
    <h2>MDN Web Docs</h2>
    <ul>
      <li><a href="#">Web Technologies</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">Learn Web Development</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">About MDN</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">Feedback</a></li>
    </ul>
    <p>
      © 2005-2012 Mozilla and individual contributors. Content is available
      under <a href="#">these licenses</a>.
    </p>
  </div>
</body>

Accessibility concerns

Use sparingly

Landmark roles are intended to identify larger overall sections of the document. Using too many landmark roles can create "noise" in screen readers, making it difficult to understand the overall layout of the page.

One contentinfo landmark per page

The <body> element

There should be only one contentinfo landmark per document, used as the immediate descendant of the <body> element.

Mega-footers

Do not nest additional <footer> elements or contentinfo landmarks inside the document's footer. Use other content sectioning elements instead.

Labeling landmarks

Multiple landmarks

If there is more than one contentinfo landmark role or <footer> element in a document, provide a label with the aria-label attribute for each landmark. This label will allow assistive technology users to quickly understand the purpose of each landmark.

html

<body>
  …

  <article>
    <h2>Everyday Pad Thai</h2>
    <!-- article content -->
    <footer aria-label="Everyday Pad Thai metadata">
      <p>
        Posted on <time datetime="2021-09-23 12:17">September 23</time> by
        <a href="#">Lisa</a>.
      </p>
    </footer>
  </article>

  …

  <footer aria-label="Footer">
    <!-- footer content -->
  </footer>
</body>

Redundant descriptions

Screen readers will announce the type of role the landmark is. Because of this, you do not need to describe what the landmark is in its label. For example, a declaration of role="contentinfo" with an of aria-label="Footer" may be announced redundantly as, "contentinfo footer".

Best practices

Prefer HTML

When it is an immediate descendant of the <body> using the <footer> element will automatically communicate a section has a role of contentinfo (save for a known issue in VoiceOver). If at all possible, prefer using <footer> instead. Note that a footer element nested within an article, aside, main, nav, or section is not considered contentinfo.

Added benefits

Certain technologies such as browser extensions can generate lists of all landmark roles present on a page, allowing non-screen reader users to also quickly identify and navigate to large sections of the document.

Specifications

Specification
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA)
# contentinfo
ARIA Authoring Practices
# aria_lh_contentinfo

See also