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Re: Link text best practice

for

From: Liz Layman
Date: Jan 4, 2011 12:27PM

Hello:

In regards to "Some of them have told me that they've read (no references given) 'somewhere
online' that URLs should always be used for link text. I haven't been able
to find this anywhere, but wanted to check here too."

In working on federal contracts with HHS & CMS, they specify in their 508 checklists that URLs should "display the fully qualified URL" - which has been discussed with contracting officials as the full URL when linking externally.

To reference the checklists, please see: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/checklists/index.html (for example in the word checklist, refer to '1.0 - ID 1.10').

We have discussed how a full [or long] URL such as one generated from a content management system would not be beneficial for a screen reader user to render. I personally feel it would be more beneficial and usable to use link text that describes the source target/link destination (e.g., requirements for XYZ on NASA). The 'click here' is not useful to describe the source target/link destination , and if there are more than one of these on a page it can cause confusion - especially if using a screen reader one chooses to view a list of all links for quick navigation or orientation to the page content.

However, the primary use of the content needs to distinguish how the URL is to be displayed. Is it a web page or content linked from a web page? Is it e-mail text or printed content? I agree with displaying the full URL within an e-mail and on printed content.

Twitter: 508ingGirl

Liz Layman ( <EMAIL REMOVED> )

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