Links

Best Practices

• When naming links, consider using the destination site's (or document's) heading one, or heading two as the link name.  This provides a direct correlation between the link and its destination.
• Craft phrases rather than single words for link text so users with limited motor control (and mobile users) can more easily select links.
• Do not use, "Click here" to indicate a web link. This is not considered descriptive, and is ineffective for users of screen readers. Instead, describe where the link will go. For example, if you are on the UC Berkeley website and want to inform visitors of content on the page entitled, "News," don't use, "Click here to read our News," or "For the UC Berkeley Latest News, click here." Instead, consider using and hyperlinking, “News from UC Berkeley."
• Ordinarily, links to external sites should NOT open in a new tab or browser window. This is recommended because screen reader users cannot utilize the "back" navigation feature immediately after opening a new browser window. However, preserving website security is an exception to this recommendation (see next bullet).
• Learning Management Systems such as Canvas are hosted in a password protected "https" environment. The guideline for these secure sites is for all external websites to open in a new tab or window. This practice protects the integrity of the Secure Socket Layer (SSL).  The Canvas platform automatically adds the proper code when linking outside of the Berkeley.edu domain so the link opens in a new window.
• If an image is active, i.e., if the image is inside an anchor element (<a>), then the alternative text should convey the purpose or function of the link.