WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Meta Infos necessary in links?

for

From: Wolfgang Berndorfer
Date: Feb 19, 2019 1:32PM

So, meta info for a link is just a matter of usability?
The philosophy of WCAG is somehow: If everybody is made confused, it’s no
discrimination, when AT-users get confused too.

Glen,
You’d agree that extra information would be helpful?
Fear that 3.2.5 won’t apply. A click on a link is a strong request for
change already.
I thought about including “links that open in a new window” in my list of
meta infos. But target=_blank seems to be technically reflected in JAWS
already. And visually a change of websites might be comprehended intuitively
anyway.
Well, I meant “in-page links”. Didn’t know the exact expression in English.
JAWS technically announces this link type already. But wouldn’t it be fine
for non-AT users to get the information that they got or will get some
resources on the *same* side?
Wolfgang


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] Im Auftrag
von glen walker
Gesendet: Dienstag, 19. Februar 2019 17:47
An: WebAIM Discussion List
Betreff: Re: [WebAIM] Meta Infos necessary in links?

From a strict checklist of AA conformance, you don't have to indicate the
extra information.

For AAA conformance, 3.2.5 Change on Request might apply. (You mentioned
2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only), which is AAA, so thought you might be
interested in other AA requirements). However, your list of meta info
examples didn't include links that open in a new window. That would fall
under 3.2.5 but your other examples wouldn't.

From a user experience perspective, your first three examples would be
great to always indicate, just make sure that if you have some indicator,
that you do it for all links on all pages, otherwise 3.2.4 Consistent
Identification would apply.

I always encourage 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only) as well, even though it's
AAA

Your last example, I'm not sure if you meant in-page links or links to
other pages on the same site, but I wouldn't put an indicator on either.

Glen