Hyperlink (link) Playbook

Overview

Do:

• Avoid one word links
• Create meaningful link text
• Limit links to seven words
• Limit the use of anchor links (cognitive, visual)

Don't:

• Use "click here", "click to," "image of" in the link
• Use the same link text for more than one link
• Change the link formatting from the standard

Hyperlinks (Links) need to be clear and easy to understand.

• Links should be a few words of text to a phrase

Best Practices

• Short: Links should be under 50 characters
• Unique text: Links shouldn't contain "More," "Read More," "Find out more," "Click Here," or have the same link duplicated on the page
  
• Links should be meaningful and indicate what selecting them will do (go to a page, email someone, download a document, etc.
  
• Avoid text instructing the user to click the link. If absolutely required; avoid using click, instead use select. (Not everyone is using a mouse and can click)

Email links

• Recommended: Email the marketing team
• Email the marketing team at marketing@example.com
  

Phone links

Notes: Use hyphens and include the country code.

<a href="tel:18005555555">1-800-555-5555</a>

For more, detailed information, see 3.5.6 Make Telephone Numbers "Click-to-Call"

Relates to:

• WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
• WCAG 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only)

Designers and Developers should ensure pages should include skip links; for example, to navigate to the main content and footer

• Use the UTMB standard skip links at the top of the page
• If there is more than one skip link it should coded as an HTML list
• Sitefinity pages will have this automatically