Define proper table headers
SkillMediatable-headers is an agent skill for accessibility review of HTML tables. It guides an agent to check that data tables use proper header cells and scope attributes so screen readers can announce the context of each data cell. It covers native semantics first, then keyboard behavior, focus flow, accessible names, and screen-reader output where relevant.
Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.
No other account needed.
Have an agent environment that can load skills with a name, description, and metadata.
Then ask your AI: use the Define proper table headers skill
What your AI can do with it
- Check that data tables use <th> elements for headers instead of <td>
- Verify scope="col" or scope="row" attributes clarify header relationships
- Confirm every data cell is associated with at least one header
- Flag exact elements, roles, labels, and focus behavior that violate the rule
- Suggest fixes such as converting header cells to <th> with correct scope
- Explain how <th> and scope help assistive technologies convey table structure
Getting started
- Have an agent environment that can load skills with a name, description, and metadata.
- Add the table-headers skill files, including the references/rule.md file with implementation details and code examples.
- Invoke the skill when reviewing rendered HTML, interactive components, or design-system patterns involving table headers.
- Follow the skill's check, fix, and explain steps, and verify fixes with browser accessibility tooling or assistive technology.
What this skill tells your AI
The instructions your AI receives, as published by thedaviddias/front-end-checklist in skills/table-headers/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.
Properly defined headers allow screen readers to announce the context for each data cell, making complex tables understandable.
Quick Reference
- Use
<th>for all table headers, not<td> - Apply
scope="col"orscope="row"to clarify header relationship - Ensure every data cell is associated with at least one header
- In simple tables, prefer fixing header associations before escalating to caption-level recommendations
- Missing
scope="col"on a straightforward header row is often the clearest first fix
Check
Check that all data tables use <th> elements for headers with appropriate scope attributes.
Fix
Convert header cells to <th> and add the correct scope attribute.
Explain
Explain how <th> and scope help assistive technologies communicate the structure of data tables.
Code Review
Review the rendered markup and interactive states that affect Define proper table headers. Flag exact elements, roles, labels, focus behavior, or keyboard interactions that violate the rule, and note how to verify the fix with browser accessibility tooling or assistive tech.
For full implementation details, code examples, and framework-specific guidance,
see references/rule.md.
Rule page: https://frontendchecklist.io/en/rules/accessibility/table-headers
Signals
- GitHub stars
- 74k
- Forks
- 7k
- Last commit
- Aug 2026
Questions
- When should this skill be used?
- Use it when reviewing rendered HTML, interactive components, or design-system patterns related to defining proper table headers.
- What is the quickest fix for a simple table?
- Adding scope="col" to a straightforward header row is often the clearest first fix, before escalating to caption-level recommendations.
Advanced
- Item type
- skill
- Key
table-headers- Source
- github.com/thedaviddias/front-end-checklist