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Re: Link vs Button for "Cancel"

for

From: JP Jamous
Date: Jan 9, 2018 7:35AM

Brian,

I sure agree with you guys. Stick to proper HTML semantic. Unfortunately, that's not the facts of the real world.

I preach in all of my training classes and workshops to stick to proper HTML semantic. Yet, the resistance with the addition to presenting A11Y as a positive component of the SDLC force us to bend the rules.

High jacking a link is definitely not a proper HTML semantic, but HTML was all built wrong from the beginning. I am talking back into the 90's. That's why I love coding with strict languages like C++, C#.NET, VB.NET and SQL. One tiny mistake and that compiler gets ticked off and comes back at the developer with an angry face. I wish there is such a thing for HTML besides the W3C validator.

I think of those native coding languages as professional boxing, whereas HTML is street fighting. Use whatever means to win even if they are against the rules. *Smiles*

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Lovely, Brian via WebAIM-Forum
Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 8:05 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED> ; WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Link vs Button for "Cancel"

>>>>>>Personally, I have a feeling that normal people (people who are not technologists like us) do not have such a technical view of links vs.
buttons.

I support the "acts like a link = link, acts like a button = button" practice. I also tend to walk on the right in hallways, go through the right hand door, etc. I don't know if other people do this consciously or not, but I do see a significant percentage of people doing the same thing (I'm in the US, btw). I'm sure there are people to whom this doesn't occur (non-technologists, so to speak), but in general I think this is a good way to ensure foot traffic flow. Whether or not it is universally understood, the link/button practice is logical and will, worst case scenario, benefit those who are aware of it. Best case scenario, it will become universally accepted and will be a logical and useful practice, whereas assigning roles randomly will never provide any added benefit.
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