JavaScript Element ariaBrailleRoleDescription Property

Beginner
5 min read
Updated: Nov 2026
3 examples
Property
Decorative image with the word ARIABRAILLEROLEDESCRIPTION

Definition

Element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription reflects the aria-brailleroledescription attribute (MDN). It is a string intended for braille — usually a short form of aria-roledescription. Use it only when that spoken role description is present and too verbose for braille.

Read the notes below before you get or set this property. Prefer feature detection when support is limited.

Syntax

Use el.ariaBrailleRoleDescription. Start with this line.

JavaScript
element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription
CallWhat it does
element.ariaBrailleRoleDescriptionPrimary signature.

Built into the browser. Read or assign el.ariaBrailleRoleDescription — no import required.

Library declarations
JavaScript
element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription

Parameters

This member has no parameters beyond those shown in the signature.

Return Value

Return ValueDescription
*The current value of el.ariaBrailleRoleDescription.

JavaScript Examples

Example 1 — Read Value (MDN)

Read the reflected braille role description from a slide.

JavaScript
const article = document.getElementById("article");
console.log(article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription);
// → "sld"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. HTML sets aria-brailleroledescription="sld".
  2. Property reflects it as a string.
  3. Spoken role still comes from aria-roledescription.
  4. Braille AT can use the shorter form (MDN).

Example 2 — Set Value (MDN)

Update the braille role description from JavaScript.

JavaScript
const article = document.getElementById("article");
console.log(article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription); // "sld"

article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription = "sd";
console.log(article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription); // "sd"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Assign a short string meant for braille (MDN).
  2. Attribute updates to match.
  3. Keep aria-roledescription for spoken AT.
  4. Avoid inventing abbreviations users will not recognize.

Example 3 — Pair With Role Description

Always set the spoken role first, then the braille short form.

JavaScript
const article = document.getElementById("article");

article.ariaRoleDescription = "slide";
article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription = "sld";

console.log(article.ariaRoleDescription);        // "slide"
console.log(article.ariaBrailleRoleDescription); // "sld"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Set ariaRoleDescription first. Required before braille (MDN).
  2. Add a short braille form only if the spoken one is too long.
  3. Read both to verify spoken vs braille values.
  4. Most UIs skip this — rare case only.
Compatibility

Browser Support

Element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription is Baseline 2024 on MDN (newly available since September 2024). Feature-detect when reading/writing from JavaScript on older engines.

✓ Baseline 2024

Element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription

Reflect aria-brailleroledescription — Baseline newly available.

2024 Baseline
Google Chrome Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Mozilla Firefox Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Apple Safari Supported · macOS & iOS
Full support
Microsoft Edge Supported · Chromium
Full support
Internet Explorer No native support · Use a polyfill
Polyfill
Opera Supported · Modern versions
Full support
Samsung Internet Supported · Android
Full support
Android WebView Supported · Modern WebView
Full support
ariaBrailleRoleDescription Baseline 2024

Bottom line: Use only with aria-roledescription, and only when that text is too long for braille. Prefer short recognizable contractions (e.g. "sld").

Frequently Asked Questions

It reflects the aria-brailleroledescription attribute as a string — a braille-oriented abbreviation of the element’s aria-roledescription (MDN).
No. MDN marks Element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription as Baseline 2024 (newly available since September 2024). It is not Deprecated, Experimental, or Non-standard.
Only if aria-roledescription is already present and is too verbose for braille (MDN). Most pages never need it.
aria-roledescription is the spoken/custom role description (for example "slide"). aria-brailleroledescription is an optional shorter form for braille (for example "sld").
ariaBrailleLabel overrides how the accessible name appears in braille. ariaBrailleRoleDescription abbreviates the custom role description in braille.
Yes. Reading and writing ariaBrailleRoleDescription updates the reflected aria-brailleroledescription attribute (MDN).

Next: ariaBusy

Learn how aria-busy marks content that is still updating.

ariaBusy tutorial →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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