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Accessibility
When is a link text understandable even without context?
Read-out programs can read all links of a page as a list; Visitors jump to the destination so quickly. A list of "more", "here", "read on", "download" does not help. Level A (2.4.4) allows the sentence around the link to explain the purpose. Criterion 2.4.9 of level AAA requires that the link text alone is sufficient: “Download annual report 2025 as PDF” instead of “Download”.
What the Criterion Requires
The purpose of each link is recognizable from the link text itself or from the text with its name accessible for auxiliary technology, without reading the surrounding paragraph. Same link texts lead to the same goal; two links “more” with different goals are violated. Excluded are links whose purpose is ambiguous for all visitors, such as a link with the title of a work of art, whose goal the viewer should first explore.
Visible text or accessible name
The full purpose is best visible in the link. Where the layout requires a short caption, for example in tiles with “Learn more”, an additional accessible name (aria-label or visually hidden text) may complement the purpose: “Learn more about accessibility”. The visible text must remain at the beginning of the accessible name, otherwise the voice control fails (criterion 2.5.3).
This is how we deal with it
The measurement reads each link with its accessible name and finds non-specific texts (more, here, click, continue, download, link) as well as identical texts with different goals. Whether a specific-sounding link text really calls its purpose is something a person judges. The criterion belongs to the category AAA in knowledge; the references already provide the measurement today as an indication.
Examples
Link text that only makes sense in sentences
<p>Für den Antrag brauchen Sie ein Formular. <a href="/f1.pdf">Hier</a> laden Sie es herunter.</p><p>Für den Antrag brauchen Sie ein Formular: <a href="/f1.pdf">Antrag auf Wohnbeihilfe (PDF, 240 KB)</a>.</p>Unlike at level A, the link text must be understandable without the surrounding sentence, because readers show links as a list.
- Have all links of the page displayed as a list (read aloud program or browser extension) and read the list without the page.
- Replace any link text that says nothing without context with goal and purpose: “Opening hours of the library” instead of “here”.
- For files, specify format and size in the link text: “Application (PDF, 240 KB)”.
- Check tiles and cards: same text “Learn more” needs a supplementary name for each tile.
