WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Links vs buttons

for

From: Olaf Drümmer
Date: Sep 12, 2013 1:35AM

Hi,

I would make a distinction between
changing where you are, by moving around in content that is there already
versus
changing the state or status of something

Buttons change something:
- create a list of search results
- submit a form
- go to the next step in a transaction (e.g. when ordering something online)
- …

Links are just navigational instruments - the stuff on the website is not changed, just your position in it changes when you follow links.

Borderline cases are links or buttons like "Next". If something is saying "Next" in the sense of next page of this article, I consider that a link, if something is saying "Next" because after selecting things for purchase you go to the payment step, this would be through a button.

Or in other words:

A button is an answer to the question "What can I do" whereas a link is an answer to the question "Where can I go".


Olaf


Am 12 Sep 2013 um 07:11 schrieb Rakesh < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:

> Hi all,
>
> Most of the times I am confused where to use buttons and where to use
> links. Tried researching on it but I could not get a solid answer.
> I am very much interested in righting a blog on the same.
>
> To me button is used when an action is associated with the element such
> as 'Submit", "continue", "next", "cancel", Add to cart (in e-commerce
> websites), Proceed", close" etc. Also when a pop-up opens to provide
> context help "help", etc. While links are only used to connect the web
> pages either through "href" or by calling some functions via
> scripting.The other way to put it is input buttons are used wen a
> visuall indication off buttton is provided on the page else use a link.
>
> Is my understanding correct. Can you throw some light on it.
>
> Thanks & Regards
> Rakesh
> > >