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Re: Icon-only buttons

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From: Mark Magennis
Date: Jan 21, 2022 4:08AM

Pat,

Having a "link opens in new tab" symbol on a button sounds illogical. If it opens a new page then logically it is a link, not a button, and should be exposed as a link.

As far as I can tell, this is the view of most accessibility specialists - that role should not follow behavior, i.e. if it behaves like a button make it a button and if it behaves like a link make it a link. But some people disagree and think that role should follow appearance. i.e. if it looks like a button make it a button and if it looks like a link make it a link. Considering the experience of screen reader users, both views have their merits.

Role follows behavior means screen reader users can better guess the behavior from hearing the role. Role follows appearance means that there is less of a disconnect between the appearance and the announced role for partially sighted screen reader users, and also that it is less confusing when discussing the UI with sighted colleagues or support personnel where you might get an exchange like "try pressing the Edit button", "I can't find an edit button, there isn't one. Oh wait, there's an edit link, is that what you mean?".

As I said, I think most accessibility folks are in the role follows behavior camp but I don't have enough experience of having asked users themselves what they prefer to be able to speak for users (apart from those who are also accessibility specialists and therefore advanced users). Which is a shame because they are the most important judges of the best approach.

Mark