Accessible Links

Link text is used to describe the destination or purpose of the link. Good link text will help all users navigate your page and assist them in finding what information they need. Users of screen reader technology can generate a list of links, have them read alphabetically, and then navigate websites from there. For this reason, link text should be as descriptive as possible and should not have to rely on the context of the surrounding text in order to be understood.
 

Avoid vague link text  

Make sure the text that you are linking is as descriptive as possible.  The user should be able to tell what type of site or information they are being linked to.  
Incorrect: 'Click here' or 'Read more'
Correct: 'learn about undergraduate studies' and 'find out about Biology tracks'
Incorrect:  The data can be found at Dr. Smith's personal website .
Correct: The data can be found at Dr. Smith's personal website.
 

Opening links in the same tab

In order to give site users as much control as possible over their experiences of your website, you should not force their browsers to open links in new tabs/windows. Instead, you can use the 'display arrow if link does not originate at WashU' toggle to indicate that the link leads you to a site outside of WashU.

Don't link the actual URL 

You should always link text instead of inserting an actual web address. 
Incorrect:  The data can be found at Dr. Smith's personal website.   https://drsmithsscienctificwebsite.com (Links to an external site.) 
Correct:  The data can be found at Dr. Smith's personal website .
 

Make sure your link text is different for each link destination 

For example, if you link the text 'A Very Important Book by John Doe'  to the book's publisher, don't also use the text 'A Very Important Book by John Doe' further down the page to link to a website displaying the book's reviews.  Each destination should have unique link text. 

Don't only link the file type  

For example, in a list of publications, don't only link the 'pdf' on each item.
Incorrect:  Smith, A, B. V., & Lopez, D. A. (2015). A comparison of German and oriental cockroach habitats. Journal of Insect Science, 20(1), 8-12. (pdf) 
Correct:  Smith, A, B. V., & Lopez, D. A. (2015). A comparison of German and oriental cockroach habitats. Journal of Insect Science, 20(1), 8-12. (pdf)
 

Text on buttons needs to be descriptive 

Remember, buttons are also linked text so all of the rules apply to them too!  
Incorrect: 'Contact Us' or 'Email Us'
Correct: 'RSVP for Retirement Dinner' or 'Email the Director of Graduate Studies'