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RE: back to top

for

From: Patrick Lauke
Date: Jan 10, 2006 11:00PM

> 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.

> Are they
> an accessibility issue? I've never come across anyone
> criticising them
> and I'm interested to know what the objection is.

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.

> Personally, as a *user*, I find them very useful in
> areas like long
> FAQs where I want to look at several, but not all, of the answers.

Different users have different preferences. Many users will also like
things like the "print this page" buttons etc mentioned above, and remain
blissfully unaware that this functionality is already present in their
browser.

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.

Patrick
________________________________
Patrick H. Lauke
Web Editor / University of Salford
http://www.salford.ac.uk
________________________________
Web Standards Project (WaSP) Accessibility Task Force
http://webstandards.org/
________________________________