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WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

This page demonstrates how to create links with clear purpose that can be understood in context.

Poor Link Text Examples

Problematic Link Text

For more information about our services, click here.

To download our report, here.

Read more about our company history.

View the full article >

Why these fail:
  • Generic text like "click here" or "read more" doesn't describe the link's purpose
  • Single characters (>) provide no context
  • Screen readers may read these links out of context

Good Link Text Examples

Descriptive Link Text

View our professional services overview

Download 2024 Annual Report (PDF, 2.5MB)

Read about our company's 25-year history

Continue reading: "The Future of Web Accessibility"

Why these work:
  • Link text clearly describes the destination
  • File information is included where relevant
  • Context is built into the link text

Links with Programmatic Context

News Articles

Bad Example: Icons Without Context

Good Example: Icons with Labels

Download report Share article

Good Example: Icon-only with Aria Label

Complex Content Examples

Conference presentation on web accessibility

Accessibility Conference 2024

Annual conference focusing on web accessibility...

Register for Accessibility Conference 2024 , Early bird registration ends December 1st

Link Purpose Best Practices

  • Make link text descriptive and unique
  • Avoid generic phrases like "click here" and "read more"
  • Include relevant file information (type, size)
  • Use aria-label or aria-labelledby for complex contexts
  • Ensure icon links have proper text alternatives
  • Test links by reading them out of context
Hover over links to see their full context