2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
High-Level Description
The purpose of each link must be clear from the link text or its surrounding context.
Detailed Description
What this means:
- All links on a page must have descriptive link text or have ARIA attributes to assist those using accessible technologies.
Applies to:
- All text links
Avoid vague link text like 'Click here' or 'Read more' when context is insufficient. Users must understand what the link does or where it leads.
Indicators of Non-Compliance:
- The use of generic link text such as "Click Here", "Read More"
- The link text is just the URL
Real-World Examples
| Scenario | Non-Compliant | Compliant |
|---|---|---|
| Click Here link | Link text that is "click here" | A more descriptive label (e.g. the name of the webpage the link leads to) or ARIA is used to give more context to the link |
Supporting Documentation
Remediation Strategies
1 - Use meaningful link text
Make sure every link has a label that describes where the link leads to.
2 - Replace ambiguous text with accessible descriptions
Avoid the use of ambiguous link text such as "Click Here", "Read More", etc.
3 - Use ARIA-labels where context is not visible
For links or buttons that need extra context, use ARIA labels to add more context for a screen reader user.