Object Element Content for 508 Compliance

Question

One of the 508 compliance rules are that all OBJECT tags should contain element content. I'm not familiar with OBJECT tags or anything, but what should the content usually be? I noticed if I just put any string within the OBJECT tags I seem to pass the 508 test.

Is it acceptable to put anything within the OBJECT tags to make this pass verification? Can I just put "useless string"? What effect does the content have?

Answer 1

The content should provide information equivalent to the embedded object.

Using an useless string will not make it 508 compliant. Thus, that wouldn't be acceptable if your goal is 508 compliance. Your automated test may report a pass, but it's not really compliant unless it has real content.

The effect of this alternate content? When a disabled person visits the website and their assistive software cannot process the embedded object, the software falls back to the alternate content. Let's say you embed a Flash presentation in the page. When a blind person visits the site with a screen reading software, the screen reading software might not be able to parse the Flash movie. Instead, it reads out the text that is in the alternate content.