Operable / 2.4 Navigable
2.4.9Link Purpose (Link Only)
Level AAAMake each link's purpose understandable from its link text alone, without relying on surrounding context. This is a stricter version of 2.4.4, ensuring links still make sense when read out of context, such as in a screen reader's links list -- except where the purpose would be ambiguous to any reader, disabled or not.
Note
A detailed commentary for this success criterion is not yet available. In the meantime, this page lists related patterns, techniques, and links to the normative sources.
Related Techniques
Specific implementation techniques for meeting this success criterion. This site doesn't include the full text, so follow the links to the original W3C documents.
Sufficient Techniques(9)
Show all (9)
- ARIA8: Using aria-label for link purpose(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- C7: Using CSS to hide a portion of the link text(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- G91: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- G189: Providing a control near the beginning of the web page that changes the link text(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- H24: Providing text alternatives for the area elements of image maps(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- H30: Providing link text that describes the purpose of a link for anchor elements(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- PDF11: Providing links and link text using the Link annotation and the /Link structure element in PDF documents(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- PDF13: Providing replacement text using the /Alt entry for links in PDF documents(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- SCR30: Using scripts to change the link text(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
Advisory Techniques(2)
Failures(2)
- F84: Failure of Success Criterion 2.4.9 due to using a non-specific link such as "click here" or "more" without a mechanism to change the link text to specific text.(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
- F89: Failure of Success Criteria 2.4.4, 2.4.9 and 4.1.2 due to not providing an accessible name for an image which is the only content in a link(opens in a new tab)waic.jp(opens in a new tab)
Normative References
- Success Criterion 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only) — WCAG 2.2(opens in a new tab)The normative requirement text.
- Understanding Link Purpose (Link Only) — W3C(opens in a new tab)Official guidance on intent, examples, and techniques.