Quick Reference
Element Code: AC-001
Issue: Link has no accessible text that describes its destination or purpose
Impact: Screen reader users cannot understand where links go, WCAG failure
Fix: Add descriptive link text, aria-label, or accessible image alt text
Detection: axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse accessibility audit
What Is This Issue?
Links without discernible text fail to communicate their purpose to screen reader users. This includes links that only contain images without alt text, links with no text content, or links where the visible text doesn't make sense out of context (like "click here").
Why This Matters
Accessibility
Screen reader users often navigate by listing all links on a page. If links say "click here" or have no text, users can't understand where they lead without extra context.
WCAG Compliance
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose) requires that the purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone, or from the link text together with programmatically determined context.
Common Problems
- Links containing only images without alt text
- Empty links (no content at all)
- Generic text like "click here," "read more," "learn more"
- Icon fonts used as links without text alternatives
Best Practices
- Descriptive Text: "Download our pricing guide" not "Click here"
- Image Links: Add alt text to images within links
- Icon Links: Use aria-label or visually hidden text
- Context Independent: Link text should make sense on its own
Good vs Bad Examples
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
| "Click here" | "View our pricing plans" |
| "Read more" | "Read more about our SEO services" |
| [empty link] | [link with descriptive text or aria-label] |
How to Fix This Issue
- Add Text: Include descriptive text in the link
- Add aria-label: For icon-only links, add aria-label attribute
- Fix Image Links: Add alt text to images inside links
- Test with Screen Reader: Verify links make sense when announced
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your links don't have text that describes where they go. Screen reader users hear just "link" with no context. Add descriptive text to links, and if a link contains only an image, make sure that image has alt text.
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