Check Message Template

Axe-core uses a custom template to handle dynamic check messages (messages that use the data property to output values or to determine which message to display). The structure for the messages is as follows:

Simple Message

A simple message is just a string that doesn't use the data property. Most checks uses this format.

{
    "messages": {
        "pass": "Simple message for a passing check"
    }
}

Message with Data

A message can also use the data property to output information from the check. If data is a String, Boolean, or Number, you can use the syntax ${data} to have the message output the value of the data property.

// check.js
this.data(10);

// check.json
{
    "messages": {
        "pass": "Passed with a value of ${data}"
        // => "Passed with a value of 10"
    }
}

If data is an object, you can access properties of the object using the syntax ${data.propName}.

// check.js
this.data({
  contrast: '3:1',
  fontSize: '12px'
});

// check.json
{
    "messages": {
        "fail": "Color-contrast failed with a contrast of ${data.contrast} and font size of ${data.fontSize}"
        // => "Color-contrast failed with a contrast of 3:1 and font size of 12px"
    }
}

Singular and Plural Messages

If the message needs to to know how many items are in the data property to determine the type of language to use (singular or plural), you can structure the message to use singular and plural properties. Use the syntax ${data.values} to have the message output a comma-separated list of the items (data.values is provided by the template code for you).

// check.js
this.data(['item1', 'item2']);

// check.json
{
    "messages": {
        "fail": {
            "singular": "Attribute ${data.values} is not allowed",
            "plural": "Attributes: ${data.values} are not allowed"
        }
        // => Attributes: item1, item2 are not allowed
    }
}

Message Determined by Data

Lastly, a message can use the data property to determine which message to display. Structure the message to use properties whose keys are the possible values of data.messageKey. You should also provide a default message that will be displayed if messageKey is not set.

// check.js
this.data({
    messageKey: 'imgNode'
});

// check.json
{
    "messages": {
        "incomplete": {
            "default": "Color-contrast could not be determined"
            "bgImage": "Element's background color could not be determined due to a background image",
            "imgNode": "Element's background color could not be determined because element contains an image node"
        }
        // => Element's background color could not be determined because element contains an image node
    }
}

The messages can still use the syntax ${data.propName} to access other properties on the data property.

Migrating From doT.js Template in Translations

Axe-core use to use doT.js for it's temple library. To migrate from doT.js in a translation file, do the following:

• If the message used {{=it.data}} or {{=it.data.propName}}, change the message to use the syntax ${data} or ${data.propName}.

{
    "messages": {
-       "incomplete": "Check that the <label> does not need be part of the ARIA {{=it.data}} field's name"
+       "incomplete": "Check that the <label> does not need be part of the ARIA ${data} field's name"
    }
}

• If the message used {{=it.data && it.data.length to determine using singular or plural language, change the message structure of the message to instead use the singular and plural properties. Replace {{=it.data.join(', ')}} with ${data.values}.

{
    "messages": {
-       "fail": "Attribute{{=it.data && it.data.length > 1 ? 's' : ''}} {{=it.data.join(', ')}} {{=it.data && it.data.length > 1 ? 'are' : ' is'}} not allowed
+       "fail": {
+           "singular": "Attribute ${data.values} is not allowed",
+           "plural": "Attributes: ${data.values} are not allowed"
+       }
    }
}