Quick Reference
Element Code: LI-001
Issue: Link has href="" or href="#" serving no navigation purpose
Impact: Confusing for users and screen readers, potential JavaScript dependency
Fix: Add valid URL or use button element for JavaScript actions
Detection: Screaming Frog, accessibility audits, manual review
What Is This Issue?
Empty href attributes (href="" or href="#") create links that don't navigate anywhere meaningful. They're often used as JavaScript triggers, but this is problematic for accessibility and SEO.
Why This Matters
- Accessibility: Screen readers announce these as links but they don't go anywhere
- SEO: Crawlers may follow and waste crawl budget
- UX: Empty hrefs can cause page jumps or confusion
- JS Dependency: Without JavaScript, these links do nothing useful
How to Fix This Issue
If it's a navigation link:
Add the actual destination URL
If it's a JavaScript action:
Use a button element instead:
If it must be a link for styling:
Use button role with proper accessibility:
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TL;DR (The Simple Version)
You have links with empty hrefs that don't go anywhere. If it's meant to be a real link, add the destination URL. If it's a JavaScript action, use a button element instead.
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