HTML link has no accessible name Accessibility Checkpoint

Description

Each a element must contain text or an img with an alt attribute.

Help

A link name allows screen readers to voice what the links does. If there is no link text / `alt` text, or the text / image 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 describing 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)
• 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