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  • How to Write and Design Accessible Links

    Links are the building blocks of web navigation. They are the portals that connect users to information, resources, and actions across the internet. Whether you’re browsing a blog, shopping online, or reading an article, links play a crucial role in how you experience the web.

    For a link to be truly effective, it needs to meet fundamental user expectations. Links should be predictable, accessible, and functional across all devices and interaction methods, from mouse and keyboard to touchscreens and screen readers. When creating accessible links, there are three core aspects to keep in mind:

    1. Writing links that are meaningful and user-friendly.
    2. Designing links for visibility and interaction.
    3. Coding links for accessibility, SEO, and device compatibility.

    In this article, we’ll dive into each of these aspects to help you design and write accessible links that ensure a seamless experience for all users.

    1. Writing Links: Clarity and Context Matter

    Anchor text is the clickable part of a link, and it should always provide clear, meaningful context. Users rely on anchor text to understand where the link will take them. Generic phrases like “Click Here” or “Read More” do not give enough information about the content that the link points to, making it harder for users to make decisions.

    Examples of poor vs. good link text:

    • ❌ “Click here to learn about accessibility.”
    • ✅ “Learn about web accessibility best practices.”

    By being specific and descriptive, you create accessible links that users can easily understand and navigate.

    Structuring Links for Scannability

    Research shows that users often scan pages rather than reading them word for word. This means that the structure of your links matters. To make your links easy to scan, follow these tips:

    • Place important keywords at the beginning of the anchor text.
    • Avoid linking entire sentences—focus on the most relevant words.
    • Use consistent phrasing across similar links.

    For instance, if you’re linking to multiple articles about web accessibility, keep the format and phrasing consistent across all of them. This will make it easier for users to predict what each link offers, improving accessibility.

    Handling Email and Phone Links Correctly

    Links that direct users to email addresses or phone numbers need to be formatted correctly. The proper way to link email and phone numbers is as follows:

    • Email: mailto:hello@example.com
    • Phone: tel:+1234567890

    It’s also important to note that displaying contact information directly on the page, rather than relying solely on links, is more user-friendly. For example, showing your email address and phone number on your page is helpful for users who might have trouble interacting with links. For mobile users, providing an easy tap-to-call experience can improve usability.

    Linking to Downloadable Files

    When linking to downloadable files, it’s essential to set proper expectations for users. Make sure you provide information about:

    • The file format (e.g., PDF, DOCX, ZIP).
    • The file size (e.g., “PDF, 2MB”).
    • Contextual information about what the file contains (e.g., “Download our 2024 SEO Guide (PDF, 5MB)”).

    Examples of misleading vs. helpful download links:

    • ❌ “Click here to download the file.”
    • ✅ “Download our 2024 SEO Guide (PDF, 5MB).”

    By providing clear details about what users are downloading, you create accessible links that prevent confusion.

    2. Designing Links: Visibility and Usability

    To ensure your links are visible and easy to recognize, they should look like links. The most common indicator is underlined text.

    • Color contrast: Ensure a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background for normal text, and 3:1 for underlined text.
    • Avoid relying on hover-only indicators, such as a color change without underlining, as they are not accessible to all users.

    By following these design principles, you make your links more visible, helping users navigate your site easily.

    Interactive States: Hover, Focus, and Active

    Links should provide clear visual feedback when users interact with them. This helps users understand what is clickable and what is not.

    For hover effects, consider changing the color, underlining the text, or using an animation. For focus states, which are essential for keyboard users, make sure the link is outlined with high contrast, such as:

    outline: 2px solid #005fcc;

    This ensures that all users, including those with limited mobility or visual impairments, can interact with your accessible links.

    Clickable Area and Spacing

    On touch devices, links need to be large enough to tap comfortably. The recommended minimum tap target size is 44×44 pixels.

    Additionally, make sure links are spaced out enough so that users can tap or click them without accidentally selecting the wrong one. This is especially important on mobile devices, where smaller screens can lead to accidental taps.

    Should Links Open in a New Tab?

    By default, links should open in the same tab to avoid disorienting users. However, there are situations where opening a link in a new tab is appropriate:

    • External links to other websites.
    • Downloadable files.
    • Preventing users from losing unsaved progress (e.g., in a form).

    If a link opens in a new tab, always notify users beforehand. This can be done by adding a phrase like “Opens in a new tab” next to the link:

    <a href="example.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Example (Opens in a new tab)</a>

    Coding Links: Best Practices for Developers

    Semantic HTML: The <a> Tag Is Essential

    When coding links, always use the correct HTML element: the <a> tag. This element provides the necessary structure for links to be accessible.

    Correct usage:

    <a href="example.com">Visit Example</a>

    Incorrect usage (breaks keyboard accessibility):

    <div onclick="window.location='example.com'">Visit Example</div>

    Using <a> ensures that all users, including those using screen readers or keyboard navigation, can interact with your accessible links.

    Internal Links and Page Anchors

    In-page links (or jump links) allow users to navigate directly to different sections of a page. To ensure proper accessibility, use anchor tags with corresponding id attributes.

    Example of an in-page link:

    <a href="#section">Jump to Section</a>
    <h2 id="section">Section Title</h2>
    To ensure keyboard focus follows the jump, use tabindex="-1":
    <h2 id="section" tabindex="-1">Section Title</h2>

    Using ARIA for Accessible Link Labels

    If you’re using icons for links (such as social media buttons), it’s important to make sure they have accessible names. You can achieve this by using ARIA labels.

    Example with ARIA:

    <a href="https://twitter.com" aria-label="Visit us on Twitter. Opens External Webpage">
      <i class="fab fa-twitter"></i>
    </a>

    Alternatively, include visible text along with the icon:

    <a href="https://twitter.com">
      <i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> Twitter
    </a>

    Managing External Links Securely

    When opening external links in new tabs, always use rel="noopener noreferrer" to prevent security risks:

    <a href="https://example.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Visit Example</a>

    This practice helps keep your site secure and protects users’ privacy.

    Testing and Improving Links

    Manual Accessibility Testing

    To ensure your links are accessible, perform manual testing:

    • Keyboard navigation: Can you tab to every link?
    • Screen readers: Does every link make sense without visual context?
    • Test the color contrast using tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker.

    Automated Testing Tools

    You can also use automated tools to check for accessibility issues:

    • Google Lighthouse: Checks for accessibility issues, including link problems.
    • WAVE and a11y.Radar: Other helpful tools for automated accessibility testing.

    A Link is a Promise, Not a Surprise

    Every link you create is a promise to your users. By following best practices for writing, designing, and coding accessible links, you help guide users seamlessly to their next destination without frustration. Accessible links improve navigation, accessibility, and the overall user experience for everyone.

    To ensure your website is fully accessible, consider auditing your links using the strategies outlined in this article. Want to take the next step? Schedule an ADA compliance briefing with 216digital to assess your site’s accessibility and learn how to improve it.

    Greg McNeil

    February 11, 2025
    How-to Guides
    Accessibility, descriptive link text, How-to, Links, Web Accessible Links, Website Accessibility
  • Creating Web Accessible Links

    Creating Web Accessible Links

    The Internet has always been about connectivity. The links that crisscross every site play a vital role in guiding users as they explore the online realm. As one of the most basic elements of web accessibility, hyperlinks help users navigate to another page to access different types of digital content. While creating hyperlinks is easy, making them web accessible takes careful consideration. But how can we make sure they are accessible to everyone?

    What are Descriptive Links?

    A descriptive link provides clear information about where the link will take the user. Instead of generic terms like “click here” or “read more,” a descriptive link might say “learn about our sustainability practices” or “view our summer collection.” 

    Why Use Descriptive Links?

    People using screen readers either tab through links or bring up a list. This can take the link out of the context of the surrounding text. However, descriptive link text provides clarity, aiding users with assistive tools in grasping the destination of a link without additional information. By ensuring links are descriptive, users can confidently know the link’s destination, allowing those using assistive technologies to navigate more efficiently.

    Types of Links That Need to Be Accessible

    There are three types of links that need to be accessible: 

    Anchor Text

    Anchor text is clickable text linking to another page or file. The best practice is to ensure it’s descriptive. For example, instead of “Click here for more information about web accessibility,” use “Learn more about web accessibility.”

    Image Links

    Images links are clickable images or call-to-action buttons that link to another page or file. When using an image or button, an alternative text (alt text) must describe its purpose. This helps screen readers in conveying the link’s purpose to the user.

    Adjacent Links

    Adjacent links are two links next to each other that point to the same destination—for example, an image with text beneath it both linking to the same page.

    Creating Valid and Accessible Links

    Start with Valid HTML

    The foundation of any accessible website is its underlying code. Think of your site’s HTML as the skeleton, providing structure and meaning. Just as a well-built house begins with a solid foundation, a fully accessible website starts with clean, valid HTML.

    When crafting links, it’s essential to use the correct tags and attributes. The <a> (anchor) tag is the standard for creating links. 

    Here’s a basic example:

    <a href="https://www.example.com">Visit our homepage</a>

    This link is valid and clear, ensuring that screen readers and other assistive devices can interpret and present it correctly to the user.

    To be a valid link, it must have the following:

    • A href Attribute: The location or URL of the anchor, page, or resource. Without the href attribute, the <a> tag won’t work.
    • Link Content Text describing where the link is going. This could be plain text or the alt attribute of an image.
    • Opening and closing tags: An opening tag begins the link, and a closing tag ends it. A closing tag always precedes the element with a /.

    Write Helpful Link Text

    The actual text of your link is crucial for web accessibility. Avoid generic terms like “click here” or “read more.” Instead, aim for descriptive, context-rich text that clearly indicates the link’s destination or purpose. 

    For example:

    Instead of using

     <a href= "#">click here</a>.

    Use:

     <a href="#">View our comprehensive guide</a>.

    This approach benefits those using assistive technologies and improves the user experience for everyone, making your content more intuitive and navigable.

    What About the Title Attribute?

    The title attribute can provide additional information about a link. However, not all browsers present the title attribute accessibly, so individuals using keyboards or touch-only devices might not see this information. Therefore, using the title attribute on <a> elements is not recommended.

    Focus State and Keyboard Navigation

    Web accessibility isn’t just about screen readers. Many users use keyboards for navigation due to motor disabilities or personal preferences. It’s essential to ensure that all links are navigable and clearly highlighted when accessed via a keyboard.

    This is where the WCAG’s success criteria 2.4.7,  focus visible, comes into play. Essentially, when someone tabs through a website using the keyboard, the “focused” element (like a link) should have a clear visual indicator, such as a border or a change in background color.

    If you’re using CSS, you might apply a focus style like:

    a: focus { 
    outline: 2px solid black; }

    This will give a black outline to any link that’s currently selected via keyboard navigation.

    Moreover, make sure that the tab order (the sequence in which elements are selected when tabbing through) is logical and follows the flow of your content.

    When Should You Use a Button Instead?

    Links and buttons are often used interchangeably on the web. However, they serve distinct purposes:

    • Links: Primarily navigate users from one page or resource to another.
    • Buttons: Used for actions like submitting a form, opening a popup, or toggling content.

    From an accessibility standpoint, it’s essential to use them appropriately. Screen reader users, for instance, might need clarification if a link behaves like a button or vice versa.

    So, if you’re leading users to a different resource, use a link. Consider using a button if you’re prompting an action on the same page.

    Designing Accessible Buttons and Linked Images

    Design plays a significant role in digital accessibility. For buttons and linked images:

    1. Clear Labels: Ensure every button or link has a clear label. This assists not just visually impaired users but everyone. “Read more” is often ambiguous. Instead, be specific, like “Read more about web accessibility.”
    2. Contrast: Make sure there’s enough contrast between the button’s link text and its background. This helps people with visual impairments and disabilities easily identify and read content.
    3. Descriptive Alt Text for Linked Images: If an image acts as a link, ensure it has descriptive alternative text. This allows screen reader users to understand the purpose of the link. For instance, instead of “image1.jpg”, use “Click to view our accessibility guide.”
    4. Focus Indicators: Ensure links and buttons have a visible focus indicator. This helps keyboard-only users identify which element is currently in focus.

    Understanding Touch Target Size Accessibility

    Touch target is the area that responds to a user can press or click. It’s especially vital for touchscreen devices. Here’s what you should consider:

    1. Minimum Size: According to many WCAG guidelines, the touch target size should be at least 24×24 pixels. This ensures even users with motor disabilities can easily tap the element.
    2. Spacing: Ensure there’s enough space between tappable elements. Crowded links or buttons can lead to mistaken taps or clicks, frustrating users.
    3. Visual Feedback: When a user taps a link or button, provide visual feedback, like a color change, so they know their tap was successful.
    4. Font Size: The smallest acceptable font size is 14 points, but anything between 14 to 18 points, or equivalently 18.5 to 24 pixels, is considered compliant by WCAG.

    Take the Next Steps Toward Web Accessibility

    The digital realm has evolved, and web accessibility has emerged as a fundamental right, not just a trend. Making your website accessible isn’t just about compliance but inclusion. It’s about ensuring everyone can access and enjoy the content you’ve painstakingly created, regardless of their abilities. And while the nuances of accessibility can seem daunting, there are experts available to assist you. 

    216digital has been at the forefront of web accessibility, armed with the tools, knowledge, and experience to make your online space both compliant and welcoming for all. We will help you take the steps towards web accessibility on your terms by developing a strategy to integrate WCAG 2.1 compliance into your development roadmap. 

    So, if you’re committed to creating a digital space where everyone feels valued, don’t leave it to chance. Schedule a Complimentary ADA Strategy Briefing with the experts at 216digital, where web accessibility is more than just a checklist—it’s a mission.

    Greg McNeil

    October 10, 2023
    How-to Guides
    Accessibility, ADA Compliance, ADA Website Compliance, Links, Web Accessible Links, web development, Website Accessibility
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