Links Overview

When links are displayed as URLs, they typically contain strings of numbers, letters, and special characters that can make deciphering the destination difficult, particularly for screen reader users. Screen reading software will read every character in a URL, which is not ideal, especially when the address is long and complicated. Just read aloud the URL of a typical journal article such as https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17029609, and you'll quickly understand the importance of link text.

In order to make links as meaningful as possible to all users, you can replace URLs with link text that is concise, unique, and descriptive. This lesson will cover how to write link text that meets these criteria and will also explain how accessible links play a crucial role in the way many users navigate the web.

Module Content

This module covers

• Requirements for good link text
• What bad link text is
• Self-check exercises

 

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