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NHJB MHP
Known Participant
April 2, 2026
Answered

Actual text in tag object properties v tooltip in field properties

  • April 2, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 25 views

We are in the process of remediating fillable forms for accessibility with training from an outside vendor. The vendor is advising the tooltip added in the field property is not enough as not all screen readers will read that and, instead, that actual text in the tag object properties should match the tooltip. All the fields currently have a tooltip but I’m questioning the added benefit of this extra step within the tag. Does anyone know if the tooltip is enough?

Thanks

Meabh

    Correct answer Tariq Ahmad Dar

    Hello,


    In Acrobat, the Tooltip (form field description) is the primary text used by assistive technologies to identify form fields. Adobe guidance emphasizes adding meaningful tooltip text so users, including those using screen readers, understand the purpose of the field:

     

    “Include text in the Tooltip field that describes the purpose of the form control.”

    Adobe Acrobat Help: Create accessible PDFs

    https://adobe.ly/4dFCqFh

     

    This is reinforced by established Acrobat accessibility guidance:

     

    Regarding tag object properties, Adobe treats tagging as a separate step for defining document structure, reading order, and semantics, rather than as the primary naming mechanism for interactive form fields.

     

     

    Recommendation

    • Use the Tooltip as the authoritative accessible name for each form field.

    • Ensure the visible label and tooltip match and are descriptive.

    • Align tag text with the tooltip where feasible for consistency, but this is not a strict Adobe requirement.

     


    ~Tariq

    1 reply

    T
    Community Manager
    Tariq Ahmad DarCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    April 10, 2026

    Hello,


    In Acrobat, the Tooltip (form field description) is the primary text used by assistive technologies to identify form fields. Adobe guidance emphasizes adding meaningful tooltip text so users, including those using screen readers, understand the purpose of the field:

     

    “Include text in the Tooltip field that describes the purpose of the form control.”

    Adobe Acrobat Help: Create accessible PDFs

    https://adobe.ly/4dFCqFh

     

    This is reinforced by established Acrobat accessibility guidance:

     

    Regarding tag object properties, Adobe treats tagging as a separate step for defining document structure, reading order, and semantics, rather than as the primary naming mechanism for interactive form fields.

     

     

    Recommendation

    • Use the Tooltip as the authoritative accessible name for each form field.

    • Ensure the visible label and tooltip match and are descriptive.

    • Align tag text with the tooltip where feasible for consistency, but this is not a strict Adobe requirement.

     


    ~Tariq

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