Web Accessible Links

Links

• Keep in mind that links may not be read in order. Links should make sense out of context. This means using terms like "click here", "more" or "click for details" should not be used. Instead, place the link within the text.
  
  
• Do not rely on color alone to convey a link. People who are color blind or have low vision may not be able to distinguish where the link is. (For example, do not say, "click on the blue link".)
  
  
• Users should be alerted to links that lead to PDFs, Word files, Powerpoint files, etc.

           Example: Emergency Operations Plan (PDF)

 

• Try to make the link short and concise (don't link an entire sentence). This is particularly important if you're linking to something with a long URL. Keep in mind that the screen reader will read off the link, so you want it to make sense to someone who has low vision or is blind.

           Example:

           Linking to ENC1101-College Composition on a page:

           Use "All students are required to take ENC1101-College Composition"

           Instead of

           "All students are required to take https://www.palmbeachstate.edu/catalog/current/courses/ENC/ENC1101.aspx"

 

• * The Title field is the text that appears when you hover your mouse over a link (also called a Tooltip). Use this field if you have a link that isn't clear (if "read more" is unavoidable, add a Title to tell what the link is for). It is important that you add information to this field that is unique to the link.

 

• Another time to use Title is if you have the same link on the page multiple times, this may give you a web accessibility error. Adding information to this field will add an "Aria-Label" to the link, which is necessary for screen readers to be able to identify different links that may have the same names (for example, on the Quicklinks page, there are links for "Admissions" and "Apply to PBSC". They both go to the same page (https://www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/default.aspx) but we're giving students two different ways to get there). 

 

• **Similarly, don't use the same text for multiple different links on a page. (For example, don't use the general "Art Gallery" and have each "Art Gallery" reference link to a different URL. Instead, use "Art Gallery LW" and "Art Gallery PBG".)

 

• As with the images, a screen reader knows what a link is and will automatically tell the user it is a link. So when adding text to the title, do not include "link to" or "link".
  
  

 

For more information visit WebAIM links and hypertext