At the height of the internet revolution and the fast-evolving technological landscape, the world has begun to recognize the importance of digital accessibility to ensure equitable access to our ever-expanding stores of knowledge. And yet, the information on the web isn’t always as readily available to all users.
Through a combination of procedural expectations and noble direction from leading organizations, web developers and content creators have been able to create content that is similarly accessible to all, regardless of their disability or background. This is especially true of links, which are not only essential in driving traffic and engagement but, if designed with accessibility in mind, can also provide an excellent user experience for all users – irrespective of their disability or orientation.
As a content creator, it’s important to understand the steps necessary to make your links more accessible. This blog post is here to provide you with a comprehensive guide, walking you through all you need to know to make sure that you can make your link content both engaging and suitable for all.
So, without further ado, let’s dive deep into Making Your Links Accessible: A Guide to Creating Accessible Links.
Quick Recap
Website link accessibility, also known as web accessibility, is the practice of making websites and web content usable for everyone regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This includes creating website links for people with visual impairments who use screen readers to access websites.
What is Link Accessibility?
Link accessibility is of paramount importance in web design, particularly in regards to creating a website or digital product that is usable and accessible for people with disabilities. Accessible links are those that are clearly labeled and easy to understand, so users can easily find the information they need without unnecessary hassle. They offer an intuitive experience and eliminate any confusion when navigating from page to page. For example, by using concise phrases like “click here” on an interface, instead of vague ones like “details” or “read more”, users are better able to understand the link’s purpose and where it will take them. Additionally, including descriptive text with each link reinforces clear understanding so users can quickly determine if the link is useful for their current task.
In addition to clarifying what a link does, making sure your links are truly accessible includes other key considerations such as keyboard navigation, proper coding, labeling images, supporting all devices and browsers, avoiding dead-end links, and adding meaningful alternative text. Many of these practices can significantly boost user experience and improve ease-of-use for those with disabilities who may use assistive technologies.
You can debate both sides of the argument by discussing why some might not consider link accessibility as important as others do – how different industries prioritize certain elements of design differently; why someone might think it doesn’t make much difference as to how accessible a website or app might be; why certain features might be seen as more important than ensuring link accessibility; etc. Ultimately though, the importance of making sure that a website or app is fully accessible for everyone cannot be emphasized enough.
To better understand the overall impact that accessible links have on user experience and web design, we now turn our attention to understanding the impact of link accessibility.
- In 2020, up to 20% of users worldwide would benefit from an accessible site.
- A survey conducted in 2019 found that 95% of the participants believe it’s important for websites to provide accessible services for all users.
- According to a case study published in 2018, by making web resources more accessible, businesses have seen an upwards of 345% rise in sales and conversions.
Understanding the Impact of Link Accessibility
It’s no secret that creating accessible links can have a positive impact on both the user experience and your web performance. But what is link accessibility, and why is it important?
Link accessibility means providing users with an equitable experience regardless of any physical or mental challenges they may face while using the internet. This includes people with visual impairments, auditory impairments, physical disabilities, learning difficulties, or cognitive limitations. When a link is written in an accessible manner, these users can easily understand it and navigate to the intended page without any extra effort.
Creating accessible links also brings several other benefits. For example, when a website is optimized for accessibility, it typically increases the reach of search engine optimization efforts because assistive technologies such as speech recognition programs or screen readers are better able to crawl and index it. Additionally, accessible websites often load faster with less memory usage, which can improve their overall performance and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
At the same time though, some people argue that link accessibility isn’t always necessary. They argue that making sure all links are fully accessible adds time and complexity to web design projects without bringing much value to end-users who don’t require accessibly written links.
Ultimately, while both sides of this debate have valid points, it’s important to remember that creating more accessible links is a beneficial change that should be implemented wherever possible—both for current web users who may benefit from them and for future users who may benefit even more. With that in mind, let’s continue on and look at some important link design considerations.
Link Design Considerations
Link design is a crucial component of making websites, blogs, or other digital platforms accessible. Links are often seen as one element in the interface, but they can have important implications for usability and accessibility when they’re poorly designed or need to be rethought.
When designing links, there are some key considerations to keep in mind. The most important is that link styling should be meaningful and consistent. All users should know intuitively—without needing visual cues such as colour or shape—that a piece of text is a link and where it leads. This helps ensure that users understand the meaning of each link, no matter their level of digital literacy or access technology they’re using.
Additionally, when choosing how to style links, be sure to consider colour contrast. Accommodating all users means ensuring links are highly readable against their backgrounds; this includes colour contrast for both text and decorative elements, such as icons or buttons. The size and spacing between links should also be considered; more space between links makes them easier to read and click on within the context of the page.
When deciding whether or not to use hover effects, consider user accessibility goal first: Does it add meaning for the user? Effects that move or change when hovered over can draw attention to important links on the page but if used excessively can detract from overall usability. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before adding any hover effects.
Finally, when incorporating visual effects such as animation into your link design, strive for tastefulness and restraint. Animations can make an otherwise dull interface interactive and enjoyable but they shouldn’t be used excessively or take away from the function of the link—such as if it requires an excessive loading time—as this could discourage user engagement with the interface altogether.
In the next section we will discuss how positioning and colour play a role in making accessible links.
Main Summary Points
Link design is an essential part of creating accessible websites, blogs and other digital platforms. There are several important factors to consider when designing links, such as understanding the meaning of each link and making sure links are highly readable against their backgrounds. Additionally, when using hover effects and animations, it’s important to consider user accessibility goals first. The next section will discuss how positioning and colour play a role in making accessible links.
Positioning and Colour of Link
When considering accessibility, the positioning and colour of links should take into account colour contrasts and links visible on unfocused elements. Appropriate positions for links can aid users in finding and interacting with them more easily. The correct colour allows users to identify links quickly to reduce confusion and increase efficiency navigating a page.
It is recommended that link colours are highly contrasted from their backgrounds, this allows users to quickly distinguish text as links or non-links at a glance. Links should also be the same colour regardless of the page they’re on, so that users can recognize them easily across different pages. Poor visibility of a link hinders its usefulness, decreasing the efficiency for all users.
Like all content, links should be properly positioned for efficient scanning with logical distances between transitional content. Non-linked text may be more suitable closer to header/important elements/buttons than links as it allows cognitively impaired people to feel more grounded when browsing by having visual landmarks. It is useful to avoid having too many links near each other as it might not be immediately identifiable which link still works and what doesn’t. By ensuring an appropriate positional layout, the user journey will be greatly enhanced allowing disabled users to appreciate their online experience more easily.
In conclusion, the positioning and colour of links should both serve the purpose of enabling quick identification of said link bringing usability benefits to all types of users regardless of impairment or not. This section has focused on two essentially related principles that help make linking accessible for everyone. Next up we will look at ‘Link Text Content’; how to use meaningful words that create accessible descriptions for use intuitive navigation and understandability within website or application design.
Link Text Content
Link text content is arguably the most important element when it comes to creating accessible links. It should be descriptive of its purpose, as well as clear and meaningful to users, both with and without disabilities. Link text should not rely solely on the context or surrounding written explanation in order to be understood. For those using screen readers, complex phrases may often be read out as a single word and therefore can create confusion. Therefore, it is essential that all link text is concise yet detailed and accurately describes the link’s purpose.
When deciding on a suitable phrase for link text, one must consider the diversity of a potential user base. Shortening phrases such as ‘click here’, ‘more info’ or acronyms may work for some readers but limits access for others who need more information to understand the purpose of the link. To avoid confusion, all links should use verb phrases wherever possible, e.g. ‘Read more about accessibility’ rather than ‘More about accessibility’.
It is also beneficial to ensure there are no redundant words or symbols within the link text. This includes avoiding the use of an ellipsis (…) at the end of links or unnecessary hyphens or underscores separating two words (for example: home-page or home_page). This can help streamline written language and make it easier to understand and navigate websites for individuals with cognitive impairments.
The next section will discuss keeping linked text descriptive while avoiding repetition in order to achieve maximum accessibility.
Keeping Link Text Descriptive
When creating web links, it is important to maintain descriptive link text to ensure accessibility for all users. Adopting this technique will make the user experience more successful in the long run as it allows users with disabilities such as those who use screen readers to still access the information the link is providing. Not utilizing descriptive link text makes it difficult or impossible for screen readers to interpret and read aloud, which could hinder a person’s experience on your website.
The call-to-action of a web page should also be described using descriptive words within the link. For example, if you were directing users to a “Contact Us” page, rather than writing “click here” you should use words such as “contact us” so that screen readers can interpret that correctly. Link phrases should also be concise and refrain from repeating the same words that appear in surrounding text. This can make it easier for assistive technology users to identify the anchor text and understand what action they may need to take.
However, there are some debates that arise from this method. Not all websites support descriptive text for links and some argue that more practical buttons with short labelling would have better user experience potential and better usability. The debate continues between focusing on clear product design and good usability rather than full accessibility for every type of user.
No matter your opinion about this debate, both sides agree that having descriptive link text is beneficial for making sure your website is accessible to all users. Granting access to everyone not just able body personas is key when it comes to designing your website. By using longer descriptions next time you create a hyperlink, you can help make sure users with disabilities don’t get left behind – leading into our next section about: “Longer Descriptions”.
Longer Descriptions
When designing links, it is important to consider whether the link text alone conveys enough context for all users. For those with disabilities or limited literacy, longer descriptions may be needed for them to understand the purpose of each link. These longer descriptions provide more detail about the content that can be found after clicking on a link, and should be placed within the hyperlink tag when possible.
The debate about if and when to use longer descriptions in web development has been around for some time. On one hand, some people argue that since search engines such as Google rely mainly on anchor text to determine the value and relevance of a website, adding lengthy descriptions could give the wrong signal, causing traffic or page rankings to decline. On the other hand, proponents of descriptive links say they can improve user experience and help those with disabilities better understand what they are clicking on. Ultimately, it is a trade-off between SEO optimization and accessibility, so understanding the pros and cons of each option can help developers find an appropriate solution for their website.
Testing link accessibility is an important step in ensuring that all users can access your website’s resources. The following section will discuss best practices for testing link accessibility and provide tips on how to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
Testing Link Accessibility
Testing Link Accessibility is a crucial step in the process of making online content more accessible. Knowing if links are correctly formatted so they can be accurately interpreted by assistive technology and work properly with other navigation systems is an important part of ensuring your site is available to everyone.
One way to test link accessibility is to manually interact with them using a text-based browser, such as Lynx. This will help you understand how a person with an older version of web browsers, or without graphics and video capabilities, will interact with your site’s links. It also removes potential distractions that can make it harder for some people to navigate the page from those with disabilities or different cultural backgrounds.
Additionally, developers can run automated testing tools on their website, such as WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool). These tools check for compliance with the WCAG 2.0 standards and generate reports on how their website performs. WAVE also provides additional features not found in other automated web accessibility checkers, such as contrast ratio analysis and form label checking, which makes it easier for developers to identify issues quickly and address them before deploying new content.
Finally, developers should use real users to test their website whenever possible by including people with disabilities or learning difficulties in the testing process. This can allow developers to get a better understanding of how different types of visitors interact with their site’s links, allowing them to make improvements that can help everyone access and use their content more easily.
With these strategies in place, businesses can confidently validate their links are accessible. Now is the time to move on to the next step: using accessibility tools when creating new content or updates to existing content.
Using Accessibility Tools
When creating accessible links, it is important to use the right tools to check for and ensure that your links are compliant with WCAG 2.1 standards. There are a variety of tests, analysis tools, and validation services that can assist you with this, such as WAVE’s Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE). This tool enables users to input any web page URL into the software and test whether the page elements including hyperlinks meet the WCAG 2.1 standards.
In addition, there are plugins available for browsers that provide more comprehensive accessibility analysis for developers and content owners of websites, such as Microsoft Edge browser’s Accessibility Insights Plugin. This plugin offers specific testing on link attributes to determine answer questions such as “do all links have visible text?” or “does this link have an adequate description?” in order to make sure they meet the required WCAG 2.1 standards.
While using these tools are helpful during the development process, it is important to know that these programs cannot guarantee a branded website is completely accessible in all respects; they should be used only as a guide while manually checking other aspects not testable via automation or interfaces. Manual testing also provides additional opportunities to uncover potential accessibility issues such as linking styles and content structure – things that automated tests may not catch.
These tools can help in making sure links adhere to WCAG 2.1 standards according to best practices but manual testing and double-checking is still necessary for full assurance of meeting the guidelines. Now that we know about how helpful accessibility tools can be when creating accessible links, let’s move on to our conclusion and overall link accessibility review [finish by leading into next section here].
Conclusion and Overall Link Accessibility Review
As technology advances and the need for digital accessibility increases, it is important to understand the implications of creating accessible links. It is necessary to recognize the various accessibility aspects of link creation from color choice, to background-image differences, to descriptive text definitions and alternate text tags. Whether creating a link for a website or a document, understanding what makes a link accessible or not can provide easier navigation for all users.
One key factor to consider when creating accessible links is whether or not they can be easily read and understood by all. Providing descriptive text helps ensure that everyone has access to the content. In addition, having an easy-to-understand printable version of any document throughout the linking process will help create more successful links.
Another element to consider is whether or not the colors used in the link are appealing and readable for those with vision impairments. Colors that may appear vibrant on a bright screen may be difficult for people with visual impairments or cognitive disabilities to differentiate. Using colors that have enough contrast between each other make it easier for users to identify which link is which.
In addition, websites must pay close attention to how they define their links by adding an alt tag, specifying the link type and choosing an icon set that can represent the link’s category if needed. It is also important to review screen readers support ranges before creating an accessible link as content may be different depending on which reader you use.
Overall, making your links accessible takes time and effort but it is essential in order to provide every user with an optimal experience no matter what device they view it on. By ensuring all aspects of accessibility such as color usage, alternative text tags and descriptive text are done correctly, one will make sure any link created is accessible for all users.
Most Common Questions
How can websites improve link accessibility?
Websites can improve link accessibility by using appropriate techniques that ensure users of all abilities can navigate the site. Firstly, it is important to keep URLs and labels clear and concise, so users can quickly determine where a link will take them. Additionally, it is vital for websites to provide descriptive ‘title’ attributes for all links so that assistive technologies have enough context to read them out to users in meaningful ways. Furthermore, it is important for websites to use ARIA attributes appropriately; these are used to supplement or replace HTML elements where necessary to better convey information about links that would otherwise be missed. Finally, websites should consider adding descriptive alternative text (ALT-text) to images-links so that users with vision impairments can access the content behind them. By following all these steps, websites can ensure they are providing accessible links and helping make all of their content available to everyone.
What tools are available to test link accessibility on a website?
There are a few different tools available to test the accessibility of links on a website. The first is a free tool called WAVE, which stands for Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. This tool provides feedback on link accessibility, including color contrast, heading structure and more. It also allows users to customize their test results so they can focus on specific areas of concern.
Another tool is A11y. This web-based service offers automated tests for conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). In addition to accessibility issues, it can also identify errors in HTML code that may affect usability or performance.
The last tool we will mention is Axe. This testing platform gives you comprehensive assessment of website’s accessibility with easy-to-understand messages and detailed reports. This helps developers and designers quickly identify and resolve key issues related to link accessibility.
Overall, each of these tools provide unique features and testing capabilities when it comes to assessing the accessibility of links on a website.
What are the most common shortcomings of link accessibility?
The most common shortcomings of link accessibility are the lack of appropriate link styles, labels, and destinations. For example, links that don’t have an obvious styling (such as a different color or underline) can be difficult to differentiate from surrounding text, which can make it difficult for users to recognize them as clickable links. Additionally, while link labels should be descriptive and clear, they often lack sufficient detail to convey the purpose of the link and its destination. Finally, if the destination page is not properly structured for accessibility, a user may encounter an inaccessible page when clicking on a link.
In order to create accessible links, these issues need to be addressed. Link styles must be clearly distinguishable from surrounding content; labels should be clear and descriptive; and all link destinations need to adhere to accessibility standards and have been tested for readability by assistive technology. With attention paid to these criteria, you can ensure that your website’s links are accessible for everyone.
