Link text should be descriptive
Suggestion Report
Link text should be descriptive.
What Is Link Text?
Link text is the visible text of a link. It is possible to create links without text, so we refer to the clickable text as link text or linked text.
Simultaneously, link text can be used to describe a linked image's alternative text. The alternative text is a written representation of the image that a visually impaired person using a text-to-speech or screen reader Links to an external site. program would need in order to know the purpose of the image and the destination of the link.
Why Is This Important?
If the linked text is not descriptive, students will not be able to determine the destination of a link before they click it. This forced leap of faith may not sit well with some students who are not technologically savvy. Additionally, when students want to refer back to a linked resource, non-descriptive links makes the process of finding the resource difficult. Lastly, students who rely on text-to-speech or screen reader programs to experience the web need descriptive links so that when they use their program to pull up a list of the webpage's links, they know where each link will take them without having to first check the context.
Cause Of Error
To get this UDOIT result, you will need to links with naked URLs, "Click here," or "Here" as your link text. It's also recommended that you avoid using "Read more" and "Click" as your link text.
Examples
Incorrect Examples
https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-6504 Links to an external site.
Correct Example
In the mobile app, the Hide and Show Code Links are obsolete. We couldn't hide them without removing them from the web browser view.
How To Fix It
Within UDOIT, if you click the U FIX IT! button, you will be provided with
- A text field where you can enter in New link text (the text that students will see).
- A Delete this Link completely instead checkbox.
To determine the correct route, click the View the source of this issue, right-click on the link in the Preview box and open the link in a new tab or window. After opening the link, if you determine that new link text is needed, make note of or copy the title of the resource. This is often what you will want your new link text to be.
After you've either filled the field or checked the checkbox, click the Submit button and UDOIT will apply the change.
Related Result Pages
Related Standards
- WCAG 2.0 A and AA Reference Guide Links to an external site.
- WCAG 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context) Links to an external site.
- WCAG G91: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link Links to an external site.
- WCAG 2.4.4 H30: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link for anchor elements Links to an external site.
- WCAG 2.4.9: Link Purpose (Link Only) Links to an external site.
Last Updated January 2017.
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