A hyperlink is the text you type in or click on to visit a web page, such as weber.edu or weber.edu/accessibility. Using descriptive text for hyperlinks helps website visitors scan for relevant information, identify outside resources and choose which links are the most relevant for their needs.
In addition, some assistive technologies, such as screen readers for visually-impaired individuals, have the ability to scan and present a list of all the hyperlinks available on a web page. This allows a person to quickly jump to the relevant link instead of being forced to listen to the entire page word for word.
A hyperlink should be a road map. Communicate the purpose or function of the hyperlink as part of the link name. When using an image as a link, there are some specific rules to follow. Reach out for help if you’re trying to do this.
Dos and Don'ts
DO: Put the hyperlink on the descriptive words that tell a user where they’re going, like Weber State University’s annual report.
DON’T: Use hyperlinks on “click here” “go here” or “read more.”
WebAIM WAVE Accessibility Tool
While there’s no tool to help specifically with this element of accessibility, you should still install the WAVE web accessibility tool to help ensure your pages are accessible.