Can or will icons have aria-labels defining the icons purpose in the near future?

Castro, Eric@CDPR 20 Reputation points
2026-06-02T21:19:38.22+00:00

For accessibility purposes, i am adding a thumbnail icon (provided by SharePoint) in SharePoint > Quick Links web part and i would like to define the icon. For example, a PDF icon. I would like the user to be informed that it is a PDF.

Example below, my initial thought that a screen reader would state "PDF Example Report" not "Example Report"

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Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint | Development
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Hin-V 16,830 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-06-02T22:20:40.72+00:00

Hi @Castro, Eric@CDPR

Thank you for sharing your concern. 

First, I’d like to clarify that this is a user‑to‑user support forum. Moderators participating here do not have access to backend systems, nor can we directly intervene in Microsoft product functionality. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance and sharing best‑practice recommendations based on reported issues, requests, and scenarios.      

Currently, Microsoft has not published any official documentation or statements confirming a supported method to assign a separate aria-label to the thumbnail icon (such as a PDF icon) in the SharePoint Quick Links web part yet. 

As far as I’m know, screen readers rely on the visible link text (title) as the accessible name, rather than on visual elements such as icons. The aria-label attribute is typically intended for cases where no visible text is available, providing a descriptive label specifically for assistive technologies. 

Given this, you could consider to include the file type directly in the link title. For example: “Example Report (PDF)” 

This ensures that screen readers can accurately convey the full context of the link to users. 

Please note that this summary is based on my own findings and may not fully address your concerns. To help you reach your goal more effectively, I recommend engaging with [GitHub Community Forum] for a deeper technical dive or to connect with individuals who have relevant experience and expertise. Some approaches may behave differently or be restricted depending on your specific environment and configuration. These forums include many experienced developers and Microsoft specialists who can assist with troubleshooting and guidance.    

If you have any additional concerns, feel free to comment below. I would be more than happy to assist. 

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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-02T21:19:50.7633333+00:00

    SharePoint Quick Links icons do not expose a separate, configurable ARIA label for the thumbnail icon itself. Accessibility for images and icons in SharePoint is handled through:

    • Alt text on images (where supported in image web parts and other image fields).
    • Clear, descriptive link text for hyperlinks.

    For accessible design in SharePoint:

    • Ensure the Quick Link title text clearly conveys both the resource and its type, for example: Example Report (PDF) so a screen reader announces the full, meaningful label.
    • When using images in other web parts, add appropriate alternative text so screen readers can announce the image purpose. For images in web parts, select the image, choose Change image, and set the Alternative text field to describe the image.
    • Follow general guidance for accessible hyperlink text by using link text that fully describes the destination (for example, including “PDF” in the link text when relevant).

    There is no documented way in the provided material to add a separate ARIA label specifically to the built‑in Quick Links thumbnail icon; accessibility is achieved via link text and alt text where available.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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