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Links

Meaningful link phrases :

Some browsers and assistive user agents can list all links on a page. Other users skip from link to link using the tab key. For this reason it is important that link phrases make sense when read out of context. Name links in a meaningful way to provide context and information to where they lead.

Avoid duplicate link phrases

For the same reason one should avoid using the same text for two links leading to different destinations.

This is an important WAI checkpoint and often triggers accessibility checker alert.

Don't use 'Click here'

Don't ever use the phrase 'Click here', 'Click the icon below', 'Click on the link below to go to website XYZ' or similar. You don't want to patronize your users. They know what a link is and what it does. And refering to an icon or image that might not be visible in a text browser or does not follow directly will only be confusing.

Phrase links correctly. Make a link part of a sentence, make it a bullet point or use indentation if appropriate.

Example:

Don't use: "For information on XYZ click the link below."

Instead use:

...or:

Paragraph with some text about a subject.

...or:

Paragraph with some text about a subject (more information).

[Be aware, however, that you shouldn't use the same phrase for 2 links leading to different destinations, as mentioned above. So, don't use 'more information' more than once on one page.]

There are endless alternatives to using 'Click here'.

The TITLE attribute

If link text is not descriptive enough, give additional information using the TITLE attribute:

<a href="guide.html" title="Accessibility Guide for Web authors">Guide</a>

In the latest browsers a small box with the content of the TITLE attribute will pop up when the mouse cursor is moved over the link. This is called a 'tooltip'. Some screen readers can be set up to read out this additional information. [Test this by moving your mouse onto the code example above. If you are using a browser that supports this feature, a tooltip will pop up.]

Quotations

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