Tables need captions

Documentation/Tables need captions

ZMD008

Each <table> must start with a <caption> that concisely describes its purpose or content.

<table>
  <caption>List of team members</caption>
  <tr><td>Jane</td><td>Doe</td></tr>
</table>

<table>
  <tr><td>Jane</td><td>Doe</td></tr>
</table>

When: A <table> element lacks a <caption> child

Warning: <table> missing <caption>

Solution: Include a <caption> describing the table

Accessibility: Tables without captions provide no context for screen-reader users and break data navigation.

SEO: Omitting captions removes valuable descriptive keywords that aid search engine indexing of table data.

Goal: Provide a programmatic title for data tables.
What to do: Include a <caption> as the first child of every <table>.
Why: Captions act like headings for tables, enabling screen-reader users to identify table purpose quickly.

Ensure data tables are self-describing, improving accessibility and maintenance.

Screen-reader users can navigate directly to table captions and understand context.
Visual users see a clear title for complex tables, enhancing comprehension.
Search engines index caption text, boosting table visibility in search results.

H39: Using caption elements to associate data table captions programmatically.
ARIA table: For non-standard tables, use role="table" and aria-labelledby referencing a caption element.

The HTML `<caption>` element defines a title for a table; it must be the first child of `<table>` to remain linked semantically.

Keep captions short—treat them like table titles rather than descriptions of every cell.
Ensure each caption is unique on a page to prevent confusion among multiple tables.
When nesting tables in <figure>, consider <figcaption> instead of <caption> for authoring flexibility.