When adding a link to your content, it is important that the link text is descriptive. This means that even out of context of the surrounding text, a user is able to predict where the link can will take them.
| Non-Meaningful Link Text | Meaningful Link Text |
|---|---|
| See more information about bylaws here. | Our Bylaws Compliance offers support for parking tickets. |
| Click here to learn more. | Bylaws Guidelines |
If a user is navigating through a webpage using an assistive technology, like a screen reader, they may tab between links or pull up a list of links on a page. If link text is not unique and descriptive, users will be presented with a list that sounds a bit like “read more, learn more, more, see more, click here” with no additional context. In a recent survey by WebAIM, ambiguous link text was found to be the 3rd most problematic item for screen reader users.
It is also best practice to avoid redundant links, or linking to the same place multiple times from the same page. Redundant links require additional navigation for users navigating by keyboard, as they have to tab through additional links, and screen reader users will also have to listen to the additional links to find the one they are looking for.