Span Tags: What, When, How? (Desktop and Advanced Editor)

Span tags are “generic” tags that can be used for a variety of purposes. Here are some do's, don'ts, and other things to consider.

Don'ts

Span tags aren't "structural" so don't' put them at the root level. 

Don't use them to replace Paragraph, List, Table (or the tags that are used inside of lists and tables for proper structure).

 Helpful Uses

• To contain the text of captions.  Refer to the Captions article for more information. 
• When OCR does not accurately recognize text.  Insert the incorrect text in a Span and, in the Properties panel, type the correct text in the Actual text box. (Or, use the "Copy Contents to Actual text" feature and then just edit as needed.)
• When symbols are used to convey information.  Place the symbol in a Span and provide Alt. text.
• If color is the only way that information is being conveyed (such as negative numbers in a table being displayed in red).  Include that text in a Span tag and then provide alternative text.  In the example of red negative numbers in a table, include “negative” along with the text for the number.
• If abbreviations and/or acronyms are used and the remediator wants to be absolutely sure that they will be read correctly.  Place the text in a Span and then provide Expansion text as needed.  (Expansion text is a WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 AAA level "thing.")
• To change the language of a word (or words) in a sentence.  Put the word(s) in a Span tag and then, in the Properties, change the language as needed.
• To otherwise manipulate how text will be read.

The button to create a Span tag is located in the Insert tag tab approximately halfway across the screen in the Other tags group.  (It's also in the ribbon on the Convert Tag tab.)

Didn't find what you're looking for? Navigate to our "Tagging (or Untagging) Content" section for more related articles that may help!