WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: back to top

for

From: Penny Roberts
Date: Jan 10, 2006 9:40AM

Patrick Lauke wrote:
>>Penny Roberts
>
>
>>This is a general question, not specifically about this
>>thread so I've
>>changed the subject. What is wrong with 'Back to top' links?
>
>
> They're a duplication of functionality already provided by the browser.
> I'd equate them to "print this page"/"bookmark this page" links or
> text resize widgets.

Is duplication such a bad thing? Many functions of a computer are
duplicated and people use them in different ways: for instance I always
cut & paste using the mouse right click, it would feel unnatural to me
to use either the edit menu or the appropriate icons. At a pinch I'd
use the keyboard shortcuts but they are the only ones I use. Yet other
people don't even know that either right-click or shortcuts exist and go
through (what I consider to be) the tedious process of opening the edit
drop down menu and scrolling down to cut. Others *do* know that other
methods exist but still prefer to use the menu.
Rather than duplication couldn't it be looked at as offering an
alternative method?

> Duplication, as mentioned above. Also, if you go overboard with the amount
> of "back to top" links, it can get tedious in situations where
> screen reader users get an overview of all links in a page.

Yes, I can understand that. But if it assists other users isn't it a
matter of weighing up pros and cons?

> Don't get me wrong, they're not a deadly sin of accessibility, but
> they're unnecessary IMHO and perpetuate user ignorance of their user
> agents' built-in features.

I agree that many people are unaware of what their browser can do (many
don't even know the word 'browser' - it's IE). But some of us do know
yet still prefer/find it easier to do things a different way: should we
be discriminated against just because our brains work differently?

Penny