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School of Medicine IT

"As the web reshapes our world, we have a responsibility to make sure it is recognized as a human right and built for the public good."

Source: Tim Burners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web and Director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Links

Links must be understandable, predictable, and usable for everyone—including visitors using screen readers, keyboards, or other assistive technologies. Clear, consistent link practices also improve SEO and overall page usability. This page summarizes the key accessibility requirements. For detailed steps on creating and editing links, see the How to Add Links page in the User Guide.

Why Accessible Links Matter

  • Screen readers often read links out of context, so link text must communicate its purpose on its own.
  • Vague or unclear link text makes navigation difficult for users with low vision, cognitive disabilities, or mobility limitations.
  • Descriptive links help search engines understand your content, improving findability.

Key Requirements for Accessible Links

1. Use Clear, Descriptive Link Text

Link text must tell users exactly where the link leads or what action will happen.

  • Avoid: click here, read more, learn more.
  • Use: “View the Residency Application Requirements.”

2. Link Text Must Make Sense Out of Context

  • Assistive technologies often pull all links into a list. Link text must be meaningful without the surrounding text.

3. Don’t Use URLs as Link Text

Using a URL as link text create a poor experience for screen reader users, who must listen to each character being read aloud.

4. Avoid Opening Links in New Tabs

Opening a new tab takes control away from the user and can be disorienting for people using screen readers. Only open new tabs when absolutely necessary, and warn users ahead of time.

5. Ensure Linked Images Have Proper Alt Text

When an image is a link, the alt text must describe both the image’s purpose and the destination.

  • Example: “UNC School of Medicine logo, return to homepage.”

6. Maintain Consistency

Avoid styling plain text to look like links. For example, underlining text or coloring text blue can easily confuse site visitors. Items that are not links should not have characteristics that suggest that they are links.

Continue to the Full How-To

For instructions on creating and editing links: How to Add Links.