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Accessibility for Developers and Designers: Links

Link Standards

Links:

  • Color alone is not used to distinguish links from surrounding text unless the luminance contrast between the link and the surrounding text is at least 3:1 and an additional differentiation (e.g., it becomes underlined) is provided when the link is hovered over or receives focus
  • links that open in a new window must denote that in the link
  • icons that denote a new window or file type are part of the link rather than after it
  • links to documents identify the type of document in the link
  • lists of links should use bullets, numbers or a vertical bar to separate that links
  • If the same visual presentation can be made using text alone, an image is not used to present that text
  • Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1

1.4.1 Use of Color

1.4.5 Images of Text

1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)

Links open in the same window

Always set links to open in the same window except for:

  • multi-step directions or
  • moving from a secure to a non-secure site

There are a few accessibility issues with opening links in a new browser window.  First, this is a problem for screen readers.  Newer screen readers notify the user that a link has opened in a new window; older screen readers may not.  In addition, if the user isn't paying close attention, they may miss the notification and have no idea where the link went.  

Opening a link in a new window may also be problematic for users with some cognitive disabilities.  They may not realize the link has opened in a new window and may not know how to get back to the previous window.  This can be troublesome for those unfamiliar with browsers as well.

Here is some information about the issues with opening links in a new window:

Turner, N. (n.d.) Beware of opening links in a new window. Webcredible. Retrieved from http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/new-browser-windows.shtml

G200: Opening new windows and tabs from a link only when necessary. (2012). In Cooper, M., Guarino Reid, L., & Vanderheiden, G. (Eds.), Techniques for WCAG 2.0: Techniques and failures for web content accessibility guidelines 2.0: W3C working group note 3 January 2012. Retrieved from http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G200.html