HTML link has no accessible name Accessibility Checkpoint

Description

Links must have an accessible name.

Help

A link name allows screen readers to voice what the links does. If there is no link content, or the link content is hidden by CSS, screen readers have nothing to read, so read out the URL instead. To add a name do one of the following:

• Add text between the a element start and end tags
• Add an aria-label attribute
• Add an aria-labelledby attribute
• Add an img alt attribute labeling the link if it contains an img element

Applicable standards

• ACT Rules c487ae
• WCAG 2.0 F89 (Success Criteria: 2.4.4 level A, 2.4.9 level AAA, 4.1.2 level A)
• WCAG 2.1 F89 (Success Criteria: 2.4.4 level A, 2.4.9 level AAA, 4.1.2 level A)
• WCAG 2.2 F89 (Success Criteria: 2.4.4 level A, 2.4.9 level AAA, 4.1.2 level A)
• Section 508 (2017) F89 (Success Criteria: 2.4.4 level A, 2.4.9 level AAA, 4.1.2 level A)

Note: Section 508 Refresh (2017) checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.0 level A and level AA checkpoints.

Change history

• 6.41 Jul 2021 Improved detection.
• 5.37 May 2020 Improved detection.
• 5.36 Jan 2020 Improved detection.
• 5.27 Oct 2017 Fixed false positive. Changed rule ID from AccWcag1-13.1.1 to AccHtmlLinkTextBlank.
• 5.9 Jun 2015 Fixed false positive on SVG fallback.
• 5.5 May 2014 Updated to April 2014 version of Techniques for WCAG 2.0.
• 5.3 Sep 2013 Fixed false negative.
• 4.7 Jun 2012 Although WCAG 2 H33 describes using title attribute as a success technique, it rarely works in practice, so ignore title attribute.
• 3.1 Feb 2009 Don’t fire if A element has title attribute.
• 3.0 Dec 2008 Now triggers WCAG2 issue.
• 1.0 Feb 2007 Added.

This page describes a web site issue detected in HTML documents by SortSite Desktop and OnDemand Suite.

Rule ID: AccHtmlLinkTextBlank