Writing Accessible Meter Labels
Writing Accessible Meter Labels records a distinct W3C-supported interface-content task while keeping implementation mechanics outside the writing guidance.
Label a meter with what it measures; communicate the current reading separately through the meter’s value information.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This page covers meter-label wording; value ranges, role selection, and aria-valuetext implementation remain separate concerns.
Further guidance
Content
Write the meter label to name what is being measured, such as battery charge or fuel level, while leaving the current reading to the meter’s value semantics.
Practical Application
Name the quantity or condition the meter measures, not the widget type; keep the current reading in the meter’s value information so the name remains stable as the value changes.
Purpose
Separating the measurement name from the reading helps users understand both what the meter represents and what value it currently shows.
Reader Check
If the value changed from low to high, would the label still accurately identify what is being measured?
Worked Example
Example: Label the meter “Battery health” and expose the current reading separately, rather than naming it “Battery health 72%.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Meter Pattern — WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices Guide (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · W3C APG guidance for meter accessible naming and user-friendly meter value text when a numeric value alone is insufficient.