Table header has no cells

Why does it matter?

WCAG 1.3.1 asks that a table's structure reaches assistive technology; this header is not linked to any data cell, usually because a cell is missing or a headers attribute points elsewhere. An empty column on purpose is fine.

Who it affects: Screen reader users, who hear the header for each cell as they move through a table.

What does Lumtera flag?

A header cell that no data cell belongs to, usually because a cell is missing or a headers attribute points elsewhere. For review: an empty column on purpose is fine.

Check ID table-header-no-cells — use it to filter the content report or with wp lumtera issues --rule.

How do I fix it in WordPress?

Add the missing cells, so every row has a cell under each header, or remove the header. If cells use a headers attribute, check it names this header's id.

Example

<tr><th>Name</th><th>Price</th></tr>
<tr><td>Tea</td></tr>

<tr><th>Name</th><th>Price</th></tr>
<tr><td>Tea</td><td>€2</td></tr>

How do I check the fix?

1. Update the post. The issue disappears from the Lumtera Accessibility sidebar on the next check, and from the site report on the next scan.
2. With a screen reader, move cell by cell (VoiceOver: Ctrl + Option + arrow keys). Each value should be announced with its column or row header.