Accessible Hyperlinks

Using accessible hyperlinks is crucial for web accessibility because links are a primary way users navigate digital content. For people using screen readers, links are often read out in a list without context, so vague text like “click here” or “read more” is not helpful. Descriptive, accessible links help all users, especially those who rely on assistive technology to navigate the web. It's important to help users understand where a link will take them and how it fits into the overall content. This not only improves usability but ensures that websites are inclusive and meet accessibility standards. Please see below for some examples to help you understand what an accessible hyperlink is and is not.

Accessible Versus Inaccessible Hyperlinks

Accessible Hyperlink Examples

1. "Download the Fall 2025 Course Catalog (PDF)"

   • Why it’s good: Clearly describes what the user will get and the file type.

2. "Learn more about Butler University's online degree programs"

   • Why it’s good: Gives context about what information is at the link destination.

3. "Register for the Accessibility Workshop"

   • Why it’s good: Makes the action and purpose of the link clear.

Inaccessible Hyperlink Examples

1. "Click this link"

   • Why it’s bad: It doesn’t provide any context about where the link leads or what it does. Screen readers announce when a link is encountered before reading the link text, so adding the word “link” within the text is unnecessary.

2. "Read more" (used multiple times on a page)

   • Why it’s bad: If several links on a page say "read more," screen reader users won’t know what each one refers to and they can't quickly navigate to the links they need.

3. "http://www.example.com/xyz/article?id=123"

   • Why it’s bad: Raw URLs are hard to interpret and navigate, especially for screen reader users.

Additional Resources

• WebAIM offers a helpful resource with additional information and tips on making hyperlinks accessible: Introduction to Links and Hypertext.