Good link labels describe destinations or actions without requiring extra surrounding text. They help everyone, especially people scanning links out of context. The important question is always where the link leads and whether the person reading the page can predict it.
What You Need to Know
Two links to different pages should not both be called Read more with no context. Visible wording generally matters more than a title tooltip.
Links are the pathways through a website. The words on a link should help someone choose where to go before clicking it.
Example: See It in Action
Here is a simple example to experiment with. Type it, save the file, and check what the browser displays.
This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.
<p><a href="signup.html">Register for the workshop</a>
</p>
<p><a href="schedule.html">See the club schedule</a>
</p>
<p>Avoid labeling both links simply "Click here".</p>Let’s Understand the Example
- An a element becomes a working link when it has an href. Its visible text should tell readers where they will go.
- A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.
- Href contains the destination of a link. A value starting with # points to an id on the same page.
The first example link points to signup.html. Check whether that destination exists relative to the document. A link changes where readers go; it does not perform an action such as saving a form.
What Should You See?
You should see a link named “Register for the workshop”. Selecting it leads to signup.html when that destination exists. Try it with the mouse and the keyboard.
Imagine this link is read out of context. Would its text still explain the destination? Rename unclear links before trying to make them look nicer with CSS.
Try It Yourself
- Replace three vague links with names of their actual destinations.
- Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
- Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using Click here on several links and making the list impossible to distinguish.
- Avoid dead links, empty href values and clickable-looking text without a real destination.
Key Takeaways
- Good link labels describe destinations or actions without requiring extra surrounding text.
- An a element becomes a working link when it has an href. Its visible text should tell readers where they will go.
- Two links to different pages should not both be called Read more with no context. Visible wording generally matters more than a title tooltip.