Links with no name

WCAG 2.4.4, 4.1.2 (A) · EN 301 549 9.2.4.4, 9.4.1.2

Some links have no visible text and no accessible name.

Why it matters

Screen readers let you list every link on a page to navigate quickly. An unnamed link shows up in that list as the raw URL, or just as "link". It usually hits social icons in the footer and product cards where only the image is linked.

How to fix it

Give it visible text, or if it is an icon, an aria-label naming the destination.

<a href="https://instagram.com/shop"><svg>…</svg></a>

<a href="https://instagram.com/shop" aria-label="Follow us on Instagram">
  <svg aria-hidden="true">…</svg>
</a>

Related

• Image button with no alternative text
• Image map area with no name
• Embedded frame with no title
• Form fields with no label