Media and InteractionLinked Text and Graphics

Guidelines

When adding web links (URLs) into your faculty-added content, it is important not to simply copy-and-paste the URL. It can be visually distracting and decrease readability while also causing issues for screen readers.

In addition to announcing links to the user as it reads through on-screen content, a screen reader enables the user to quickly tab through links on a page. The screen reader will announce each link using the text in the link or the alt text in the image if an image is being used as a link. It is therefore essential to ensure that all linked text and linked graphics are fully perceivable and understandable as well as operable.

How to Support Accessibility

Click the following tabs to learn how to properly link text and graphics in your content.

Use Hyperlinked Text Instead of Plain URLs

Do not use plain URLs in your text. When hyperlinking text, always use the title or topic of the web page as the link text. This is often referred to as a meaningful descriptor.

View the examples of accessible and inaccessible linked text in the following section.

Pro Tip

There are two exceptions to this rule.

URLs or DOIs are required at the end of some APA-formatted references. If you want to direct users to the referenced source, hyperlink the article title rather than the URL or DOI to support accessibility.
You can use an abbreviated URL when using the name of an organization as a link (e.g., Galencollege.edu or CDC.gov).

Avoid Using Generic Link Text

Avoid using "click here," "this page," "this website," and other generic text for hyperlinked text. Link the title or topic of the destination web page or document.

If in doubt, read the hyperlinked text out of context and see if it is meaningful and descriptive. "Click here" when taken out of context will not by itself be meaningful.

Use Text That is Relevant and In Context

Hyperlinked text should be relevant and in context. For example, we would recommend saying "Select an infographic from the CDC's Infographic Gallery to share in your Week 3 Discussion post," rather than "Select an infographic from the linked website to share in your Week 3 Discussion post: CDC's Infographic Gallery."

Text That Links to an Alternative Version

Text that links to an alternative version of content should be descriptive of the alternative; that is, it should include the words "text-only", "non-interactive", "rich description," or "transcript" as appropriate. Avoid using the generic term "alternative version" since it isn't descriptive.

Include File Types When Linking to Items Other Than Webpages

Links to items other than webpages should include notation of the file type in the hyperlinked text. Different file types are indicated as follows:

PDF = (PDF)
Word = (Word)
PowerPoint = (PPT)
Excel = (XSL)
Text = (TXT)

Keep it Short and Sweet

Keep link text brief and concise; there is no need to be verbose. For example, use "Gastric Tube Transcript" rather than "Week 1 Gastric Tube Procedure Video Transcript." From a usability perspective, however, avoid creating hyperlinked text out of single letters or numbers as these may not be operable.

All hyperlinked text should be underlined.

Take Measures to Make Linked Graphics Accessible

When using an image or a graphic as a link to another page or file, indicate in the image alt text where the linked image will go. Avoid selecting the "decorative" option in Canvas when inserting the graphic on your page.

For example, the following image is intended to launch a presentation. The alt text for this image would be, "Launch the Developing an EBP PICO Question presentation."

Examples

The following are examples of accessible and inaccessible linked text to illustrate these guidelines and practices for you.

Accessible Linked Text

Review the Patterns in Hospital Use Infographic (PDF) in preparation for this week's class.

Play the following brief video to hear an example of how an accessible text link sounds to someone who is using the NVDA screen reader.

Inaccessible Linked Text

Play the following brief video to hear an example of how an inaccessible text link sounds to someone who is using the DocReader screen reader.