Knowledgebase

Descriptive Link Text Print

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Making links meaningful on their own.

THE PROBLEM

Screen reader users can list all links on a page. A list of twenty items saying "read more" tells them nothing.

WHAT TO WRITE

Text describing the destination.

"Read our guide to choosing a domain" rather than "click here". "Download the price list" rather than "download".

WHY "CLICK HERE" FAILS

It describes the action, which is obvious, and not the destination, which is not.

It also fails for voice control users, who say the link text aloud.

LINKS IN SENTENCES

Put the descriptive words in the link, not around it.

"Read our guide to choosing a domain" with the whole phrase linked, not "our guide is here" with "here" linked.

SEVERAL LINKS TO THE SAME PLACE

If a card has an image link, a heading link and a "read more" link all going to the same article, that is three links a screen reader announces.

Use one, or mark the others appropriately.

LINKS OPENING NEW WINDOWS

Say so in the link text or with an indicator. An unexpected new window is disorienting.

TESTING

Read the links aloud without context. Do they make sense?


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