2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

What does it mean?

People need to know where a link leads before they follow it. Screen reader users often open a list of all links on a page; links called "Click here", "More" or "Read more" are then meaningless. Sighted users who scan a page also rely on the link text.

At this level, it is enough if the purpose becomes clear from the context that assistive technology can determine: the same sentence, paragraph, list item or table cell, the preceding heading, or an accessible name set with aria-label or aria-labelledby. An exception exists only where the purpose would be unclear to every user, not just to people with disabilities.

Who does it help?

• Screen reader users who navigate from link to link or use a links list
• Voice control users who say the link text to activate it
• People with cognitive disabilities who need clear signposts

Common failures

• Several "Read more" links next to each other that all go to different articles
• An icon-only link (for example a social media logo) with no text alternative
• A link whose text is the raw URL with no further explanation
• An image used as a link with empty or missing alt text

How we test it

• axe-core Automatic: axe-core finds typical violations. A violation is pre-filled as “fails”.
• evidence Evidence: our scanner collects material such as screenshots, lists and measurements.

Test question: Is every link purpose clear from its text or context? Check the flagged generic link texts.

A person decides every criterion. No criterion ever passes automatically.

How to fix it

<h3>Spring opening hours</h3>
<p>We have new opening hours. <a href="/hours">Click here</a></p>

<h3 id="spring">Spring opening hours</h3>
<p>We have new opening hours.
  <a href="/hours">Read more<span class="visually-hidden"> about spring opening hours</span></a>
</p>

The link text itself now includes its destination for screen readers, while the visible text stays short.

Practical tips

• Best practice: write link text that makes sense on its own, such as "See our spring opening hours".
• If you use aria-label on a link, start it with the visible text so voice control still works (see 2.5.3).

Guides and patterns on this

• The right alt text in five questionsGood alt text replaces what an image does on the page, not just what it shows. Five questions lead you to the right answer for every image.
• Your first screen reader test in 30 minutesA screen reader shows without mercy whether your page is built properly. This guide lets you test your key pages yourself, with free tools and no prior experience.
• The accessibility statement: complete, honest and easy to findService providers and public sector bodies have to say how accessible their offer is. Here is what each set of rules requires and how to write a statement that actually helps people.

Official source

Understanding WCAG 2.2 at the W3C: 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)