Within digital content, hyperlinks (links) are often used to guide users to additional information or resources. Links have two parts:

• the text used for the link, and
• the webpage or resource it leads to.

The way the link text is written and displayed can cause barriers for some people. Examples such as ‘Click here’ or ‘Read more’ are not helpful especially when there are a lot of them on a page. To improve accessibility, it is important that link text is descriptive. Accessible link text benefits all users when well they are clear and well-written.

Descriptive link text for accessibility

Using descriptive hyperlink text is essential for making your content accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive. Here’s why:

• Improves the experience for screen reader users: Screen readers often allow users to scan a list of links on a page. If links are labelled as ‘click here’ or ‘read more, they provide no context about their destination.
• Enhances the usability for everyone: They save time by allowing users to quickly recognise where a link will take them without guessing or opening unnecessarily.
• Aligns with accessibility guidelines: there several Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that apply to links. These have been added in the next section about tips.

Tips for writing descriptive link text

Here are some tips for writing link text with related guidelines:

• Be specific: Clearly describe the content or purpose of the link. For example, instead of “Click here,” use “Download the 2025 Accessibility Report.”
• Related guideline: The purpose of each link should be clear from the link text alone.

• Make links stand out visually: Use a distinct color and underline to differentiate links from regular text. This helps users with visual impairments or color blindness identify links more easily. I like to bold the link text.
• Related guidelines: Text (including link text) must have a sufficient contrast ratio against its background; Color should not be the sole means of conveying information; and Components with the same functionality should be identified consistently.

• Ensure keyboard accessibility: Make sure that links can be navigated and activated using only a keyboard. Test your site to confirm that users can tab through links in a logical order. The enter key should open the link.
• Related guidelines: All functionality must be operable via a keyboard; and Any interactive component, including links, must have a visible focus indicator when navigated to via keyboard.

• Use proper HTML markup: Ensure that links are coded properly so assistive technologies (like screen readers) can recognise them as links and convey their purpose to users.
• Related guideline: All user interface components, including links, have programmatically determinable names, roles, and states.

• Integrate links naturally: Embed links within the flow of your sentence, so they feel natural and intuitive. For instance, This Links and Hypertext article from WebAIM provides more information.
• Avoid using URLs as link text: Instead of displaying a raw URL (for example, https://webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/link_text. Raw URLs can be cumbersome for screen readers to interpret as each character is read out.
• Keep it concise: While being descriptive, avoid overly long link text. Aim for a balance between clarity and brevity.

Descriptive hyperlink text is a small but powerful way to make your website or content more inclusive. By taking a thoughtful approach to how you create links, you are creating a better, more intuitive experience for everyone.