Digital accessibility: links
Using meaningful text when creating links helps users of screen readers navigate your web page or document and helps other users know what to expect when they click on the link. Using unique link formatting helps users with colorblindness or other visual impairments easily identify links.
To ensure that your content is accessible
- Use short, meaningful text that describes where the link leads when creating a link.
- Do not paste the link itself into your web page or document. Use the link option available in your text editor to add the link to text.
- Avoid adding links to phrases that don't describe the function of the link, such as "(link)," "click here," or "learn more."
- Instead, add your link to text in a sentence that describes where the link leads.
- Example: SensusAccess is Reed's accessible document converter.
- If you are linking to a document, it might be helpful to note that in parentheses. For example, you could link to the phrase "Chapter 1 (PDF)."
- Since most interfaces use underlining as a way to identify links, avoid using underlining for other text formatting. Use bold or italics to add emphasis instead.
- Set links to open in the same tab or window, rather than in a new tab or window. This helps keep link behavior predictable and your content easy to navigate.