Links have no discernible text
Automated check link-name, run with axe-core
- WCAG
- 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context), 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)
- Severity
- Blocker: a task cannot be completed
- Typical effort
- Quick win, under 1 hour
- Category
- Navigation
Who this affects
Screen reader users, who navigate by pulling up a list of all links on a page.
Why it matters
An unlabelled link is announced as just "link", so that list becomes unusable. Icon-only social links and image links inside cards are the usual cause.
How to fix it
Give the link real text, or an aria-label when the visual design must stay icon-only. Avoid "click here" and "read more" repeated across a page, as they are meaningless out of context.
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