2.4.4 - Link purpose (in context)
Benefits user with:
- Blindness/low vision who use screen reader.
- Cognitive, learning disabilities.
- Motor impairments (keyboard-only users).
Intent
The intent of this success criterion is to help users understand the purpose of each link so they can decide whether they want to follow the link. Whenever possible, provide link text that identifies the purpose of the link without needing additional context.
Ways to meet the criterion
The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general.
Examples
Success
Content
Calgary City Hall is the seat of government for Calgary City Council, located in the city's downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Read more
HTML
<p>Calgary City Hall is the seat of government for Calgary City Council, located in the city's downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. <a href=“cc.html">Read more</a></p>
A “Read more” link is placed inside a paragraph, and the surrounding text provides enough context to understand its purpose.
Failure
Content
Calgary City Hall is the seat of government for Calgary City Council, located in the city's downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
HTML
<p>Calgary City Hall is the seat of government for Calgary City Council, located in the city's downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.</p>
<p><a href=“cc.html">Read more</a></p>
A “Read more” link is placed outside the paragraph that explains its purpose, leaving it without any context.