Links and Hypertext
Hypertext Links
Article Contents
- Page 1: Introduction to Links and Hypertext
- Page 2: Link Text and Appearance
- Current page: Page 3: Hypertext
Links to Anchors on the Same Page
Alerting users
In a perfect world, all browsers would somehow notify users when links lead to destinations on the same page. In the real world, only screen reader users have this information announced to them. JAWS says "same page link" before every such link. Sighted users can look at the status bar in the lower left corner of their browser to read the full link text, but this is a less convenient method of finding out where the link goes, because it is essentially a trial and error method. Users would have to hover over every link to know for sure where each leads. Plus users have to decipher the URL, which can be quite difficult to decipher, as has been discussed.
Accessibility advocates could complain about the fact that users don't know whether links go to the same page or not, but for some reason, this has not been high on anyone's list of accessibility problems to complain about. One possible reason for this has already been mentioned: the fact that screen readers already notify users of link destinations—even though the rest of the world does not have easy access to this information. Another reason may be that the context of a web page often gives clues as to the link destination. A collection of links at the top of a page but below the main navigation, for example, probably all lead to destinations on the same page, at least if the collection of links appears to be a table of contents for the page.
Nevertheless, it is appropriate to provide cues to users if the link goes to a destination on the same page. To help users better understand the context, it could be helpful to place a heading above the collection of links that says "page contents," or something to that effect. Other situations and contexts may call for different kinds of techniques.
Note
Firefox users can install the TargetAlert extension to differentiate between same-page links, links to external pages, links to external web sites, links which open new windows, and other conditions. In each case, it places an icon after the link, as shown in the screenshot below:
See the TargetAlert web site - external link to learn about or download the software.
Browser bugs
There are more serious concerns with regard to browser implementation bugs. Internet Explorer and Mozilla-based browsers both have serious bugs in their implementation of same-page links. See the Browser Quirks section in the tutorial on "Skip Navigation" Links for more information.
Links to Non-HTML Resources
Users should be alerted to links that lead to non-HTML resources, such as PDF files, Word files, PowerPoint files, and so on. However, there is some debate as to whether the content author or the browser should be the one to alert the user. The trouble is that none of the browsers currently alert the user at all, so the debate is more theoretical than practical. On the positive side, users of the Firefox browser do have the option of downloading TargetAlert, which in addition to alerting users to the link destination, also informs users if the link goes to non-HTML files by inserting small icons after links to non-HTML files. The TargetAlert preferences dialogue box is shown below.
Example
Here is how a few different types of links look with the Firefox TargetAlert extension installed:
Notice that the link to the secure site is also a link to an external web site (another domain).
Until such features become commonplace in browsers, it is probably best for authors to warn users about links to non-HTML resources. A link to a PowerPoint slide show, for example, could say "Third quarter sales projections (PowerPoint)" or something similar, and a link to a PDF file could say "Tax form 1040 (PDF format)" or something similar.
Links to New Windows, Pop-ups, Other Frames, or External Web Sites
Accessibility experts also debate the merits of links that open in new windows, pop-up windows, or other frames. Some people would like to ban them entirely. Others concede that they can be appropriate at times, but nearly all of them agree that users ought to be alerted when the link does not open in the current window or frame. The accessibility issue is that some users can get confused with the new windows. Newer screen readers alert the user when a link opens a new window, though only after the user clicks on the link. Older screen readers do not alert the user at all. Sighted users can see the new window open, but users with cognitive disabilities may have difficulty interpreting what just happened. Then when the try to click on the Back button in the browser, nothing happens, because there is no previous link to go back to in a new window. Links to other frames present similar problems.
As with links to non-HTML files, browsers could potentially perform the function of alerting users, but current browsers do not perform this functionality in their default configuration. It is up to the authors to alert the users. Authors can add this information to links by placing it in parenthesis at the end of the link, for example by saying "Biographical sketch (link opens new window)." Some sites use icons to convey this same message. Some of the icons used by various web sites appear below.
One of the problems with these icons is that sometimes similar icons are used to mean different things. One site might use the icon to mean that the page opens in a new browser window. Another site might use the icon to mean that the link goes to an external site but does not open a new browser window. For the sake of consistency and ease of interpretation, it may be best to use icons that show two pages—or a page with an arrow—to indicate that the link opens a new browser window. Icons with globes may be best for links that go to external web sites without opening a new window.
Groups of Links
Adjacent links
When using a screen reader, it can sometimes be a little difficult to tell when link text ends and when another begins. JAWS says "link" before each link, which minimizes this problem, but it can be a little more difficult with Home Page Reader, which uses a female-sounding voice for all of the links. It is a good thing that the voice changes from a male-sounding voice to a female-sounding voice, but if there are five links in a row, the voice will not change at all in between links, which can lead to some confusion.
One solution is to provide a non-link character between each link. The vertical bar ( | ) is used quite often for this purpose. Another solution is to put the links in an ordered or numbered list. Screen readers tend to pause between list items, helping the user audibly distinguish between separate links.
Long lists of links
Long lists of links may be cumbersome to listen to if the person is interested in narrative content rather than navigational content. One method to get around this potential problem is to provide a link at the top that allows users to skip over the list of links. This is essentially the same concept as "skip navigation" links. On pages where the main content is navigational content, such a solution is probably unnecessary.
In many cases, users will have less trouble understanding long lists of links if the lists are broken into smaller chunks with headings. The smaller chunks present less of a cognitive load on all users, which can especially benefit users with cognitive disabilities.
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