WCAG (Level AAA) SC 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only) (W3.org)
Issue description
WCAG 2.4.9, “Link Purpose (Link Only)” is a stricter version of the Level A criterion 2.4.4. While 2.4.4 allows the link purpose to be determined from the link text and its surrounding context, this Level AAA criterion requires that the purpose of each link be clear from the link text alone.
Many websites rely on the surrounding context to clarify the purpose of links. For example:
- Links with generic text: “Learn more,” “Read more,” or “Click here” are often used with the assumption that the surrounding text will provide context.
- Links within lists or paragraphs: The meaning of a link might only be clear when considering the surrounding list items or paragraph text.
WCAG requirements
WCAG (Level AAA) SC 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only) requires that the purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone, without needing to refer to the surrounding context. This means:
- Descriptive link text: Use link text that clearly and concisely describes the link’s destination or purpose.
- Avoid vague phrases: Eliminate generic phrases like “click here,” “read more,” or “learn more” unless they are supplemented with specific information within the link text itself.
- Benefits: Improved clarity: Users can immediately understand the purpose of a link without needing to read the surrounding content.
- Enhanced accessibility: It makes it easier for screen reader users and those with cognitive disabilities to navigate and understand links.
- Increased efficiency: Users can quickly scan a page and identify relevant links.
Essentially, this guideline promotes a higher level of clarity and accessibility by ensuring that every link’s purpose is self-evident from its text alone.
Related requirements
The following WCAG source criteria are often related to this as well. They can provide additional insights into specific challenges you may be encountering.
Who this issue impacts
Follow the links for additional information on user impairments:
Suggestions for remediation
Remediating WCAG 2.4.9, “Link Purpose (Link Only)” involves ensuring that the purpose of every link is clear from the link text alone, without needing to rely on the surrounding context. Here’s how:
Use descriptive link text
- Specific and informative: Use link text that clearly and concisely describes the link’s destination or purpose.
- Avoid vague phrases: Eliminate generic phrases like “click here,” “read more,” or “learn more” unless they are supplemented with specific information within the link text itself.
- Front-load keywords: Place the most important keywords at the beginning of the link text.
Rewrite ambiguous links
- Add detail: If a link’s purpose isn’t clear from its text alone, add more specific information to the link text.
- Context within the link: Incorporate the context that would normally be provided by the surrounding text into the link text itself.
Avoid redundancy
- Don’t repeat surrounding text: Avoid repeating the same text from the surrounding content within the link text. This can be redundant and verbose for screen reader users.
Testing
- Screen reader testing: Test your website with a screen reader to ensure that the link text alone provides sufficient information about the link’s purpose.
- Cognitive walkthrough: Conduct a cognitive walkthrough to evaluate the clarity and understandability of link text from a user’s perspective, without relying on the surrounding context.
Examples
- Instead of: “Click here to learn more about our services.”
Use: “Learn about our services.” - Instead of: “Download the brochure.” (with no context)
Use: “Download the product brochure.” - Instead of: “Read more” (at the end of a paragraph about a specific product)
Use: “Read more about [product name].” - Instead of: “Learn more about accessibility” (within a paragraph about WCAG)
Use: “Learn more about WCAG accessibility guidelines.”
By following these practices, you can create clear and informative links that improve the user experience for everyone, especially those who rely on assistive technologies or have cognitive disabilities. This helps ensure that all users can understand the purpose of each link without needing to rely on the surrounding context.
