Rule 10.1.3

Summary

This rule checks that spaces are not used to separate letters in a word.

Business description

Criterion

10.1

Test

10.1.3

Description

Dans chaque page web, l’utilisation des espaces vérifie-t-elle ces conditions ?

• Les espaces ne sont pas utilisés pour séparer les lettres d’un mot.
• Les espaces ne sont pas utilisés pour simuler des tableaux.
• Les espaces ne sont pas utilisés pour simuler des colonnes de texte.

Level

A

Technical description

Scope

Page

Decision level

Semi-Decidable

Algorithm

Selection

Set1

All text elements:

• p
• h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6
• li
• td, th
• span, div
• a, label

Process

Test1 - Check for spaced letters pattern

For each element in Set1 with non-empty text content:

• Check if the text contains a spaced letters pattern (sequence of at least 4 single letters separated by spaces, e.g., “B O N J O U R”)
• Pattern regex: (?:^|\s)(\p{L})(\s+\p{L}){3,}(?:\s|$)

For each element where spaced letters are detected:

• Raise a MessageA (SpacedLettersDetected)

For all other elements with text (when no spaced letters found in page):

• Raise a MessageB (CheckSpacesUsage)

MessageA: Spaced letters detected

• Code: SpacedLettersDetected
• Status: Failed
• Message: “The following elements contain spaced letters that may cause accessibility issues:”
• Parameter: HTML element
• Solution: Remove spaces between letters or use CSS letter-spacing property

MessageB: Check spaces usage

• Code: CheckSpacesUsage
• Status: Pre-Qualified (NMI)
• Message: “Please check that spaces are not used to separate letters or simulate tables/columns:”
• Parameter: HTML element
• Solution: Manually verify that spaces are not used to simulate tables or text columns

Analysis

Not Applicable

• Set1 is empty (no text elements in page)
• Or all elements in Set1 have empty text content

Failed

At least one element in Set1 contains a spaced letters pattern.

Pre-Qualified

• Set1 contains elements with text content
• No spaced letters pattern detected
• Manual verification needed for simulated tables and columns

Limitations

This automated check can only detect:

• Spaced letters pattern (e.g., “B O N J O U R”)

This automated check cannot detect:

• Spaces used to simulate tables
• Spaces used to simulate text columns

These cases require manual verification.

Files

• TestCases files for rule 10.1.3
• Unit test file for rule 10.1.3
• Class file for rule 10.1.3