WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: CSS link backgrounds

for

From: Jon Abolins
Date: Jul 8, 2002 2:22PM

For what it's worth....

Colored backgrounds for links can result in one minor suprise for some
sites.

If the hover for the A tag is given a colored background, the color
will show up on linked GIFs that have transparency.

Is this really a problem? It depends upon the site and the graphics.
Maybe there is a case where it can be distracting or otherwise
problematic. For example if the background color is too close to the
foreground color(s) in the graphic.

But the colored background can be helpful indicating that the image is
linked without resorting to JavaScript mouseovers, etc. Not really
relevant to JAWS or screen readers but may be helpful for some vistors
with impaired vision or perceptual difficulties.


Jon Abolins

>>> <EMAIL REMOVED> 07/08/02 03:34PM >>>
MessageThanks, Paul. I am just learning CSS and seeing as that
background for links is so easy to implement and helpful, why is not
totally standard?

Does it do anything to JAWS or Window Eyes (or any other
screenreader)?

Tony
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Bohman
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 3:13 PM
Subject: RE: CSS link backgrounds


WebAIM did not implement this only for accessibility purposes. At the
time the site was designed, it was done more for the style and
"artistic" effect, if you want to call it that. Still, we were aware
that such effects may be of benefit to those with low vision, or even to
the general population, because links are more easily identified as
such. The links become more obvious. Visual cues can be useful when used
properly.

If you're wondering about the choice of yellow versus some other
color, we chose yellow because of it is an eye-catching color that
stands out against most backgrounds. We could have chosen orange or red,
or some other color (assuming that the text is still readable when the
highlighted color shows up), but yellow seemed to work better with our
color scheme on the site, and its usage, as you pointed out, is fairly
common.

Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.cpd.usu.edu
Utah State University
www.usu.edu

<snip>


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