Why you don't need to include "navigation" in your <nav> labels for screen readers
By
Geoff Graham on Jun 12, 2026
Summary
A short article discussing the unnecessary repetition of the word "navigation" in HTML <nav> labels for screen readers, noting that screen readers already announce the element as navigation, making phrases like "Primary navigation" redundant. The author draws a parallel to alt text, where saying "image" is also unnecessary since it's implied.
Source
CSS-TricksWhy you don't need to include "navigation" in your <nav> labels for screen readerscss-tricks.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledincluding the word 'navigation' in your <nav> labels. There's no need.
If we did, we'd hear something like 'Navigation, Primary navigation'. Not the end of the world, but unnecessarily repetitive for screen reader users.
there's no need to say something like 'image' when describing one in the alt text. That's sorta implied.
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