Writing Accessible Link Text
Descriptive link text that works in and out of context
Accessible link text clearly describes the purpose or destination of a link. It should make sense both in context and when read in isolation by a screen reader. Vague phrases like "click here" or "read more" do not convey meaning and create barriers for users navigating by links alone.
What to avoid
<a href="/pricing">Click here</a> for pricing details.
<a href="/report">Read more</a> about our annual report.- Link text does not describe the destination or action.
- Screen reader users navigating by links alone cannot tell where these links lead.
- "Click here" assumes a mouse-based interaction and excludes keyboard and touch users.
Best practice
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<a href="/report">Read the 2025 annual report</a>Link text is specific and describes where the link goes. The purpose is clear even without surrounding context. Works for screen reader users, keyboard users, and sighted users alike.
Why it matters
Screen reader users frequently navigate a page by jumping from link to link using a keyboard shortcut. When link text is vague, they have no way to know where a link leads without reading all the surrounding content — a significant time cost when there are dozens of links on a page.
Descriptive link text also benefits sighted users scanning a page quickly, and improves SEO since search engines use link text as a relevance signal.