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A Link Has No Text a Screen Reader Can Read
When a link has no readable name, screen reader users hear only "link" or a messy web address, and can't tell where it goes.
link-nameWCAG 2.0Introduced in WCAG 2.0.Level AA — the minimum. Missing it blocks people outright.
- Status
- SeriousSerious — Significant friction, or information that is lost.CurrentScanners run this rule today.
- Owner
- DesignDevContentTest
- Audit
- Automated+ManualA scanner finds it; a person confirms the fix.
Why it matters
Many links are just an icon or an image, like a cart, a logo or a social media symbol. Sighted people understand the picture. A screen reader needs words, and finds none.
Without a name, people hear "link" or a long web address. They must guess, or click and hope. Voice control users can't say the link's name either.
Who it affects
| Who | What they experience | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Screen reader users | They hear "link", "unlabelled link" or a long web address, with no clue where it goes. | High impact |
| Voice control users | They can't say a name to click it, so they must use slower grid or number commands. | High impact |
| Low-vision users (magnification) | If they use a screen reader or magnifier with speech, they hit the same blank link. | Partial impact |
| Cognitive and neurodivergent users | An unclear icon with no words or tooltip can leave them unsure what it does. | Partial impact |
Business & product impact
| Area | Why | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | Links with no name break WCAG 2.2 Level A rules on link purpose and names — the minimum. Complaints under Australia's Disability Discrimination Act and EN 301 549 point to WCAG. | High impact |
| Conversion | Unnamed cart, checkout or social links stop people mid-task. Some will leave. | High impact |
| SEO | Search engines read link text and image alt text a little, but the gain is small. Don't sell it as an SEO fix. | Low impact |
| Brand trust | A page full of "link, link, link" feels careless to screen reader users. | Moderate impact |
| Cost to fix | Usually a one-line fix. Fix the shared icon-link component once and it's fixed everywhere. | High impact |
Fixing it in code
An icon-only link
Don't
<a href="/cart"><svg aria-hidden="true">…</svg></a>A screen reader says: “link”
Do
<a href="/cart" aria-label="Cart"><svg aria-hidden="true">…</svg></a>A screen reader says: “Cart, link”
aria-label gives the link a name a screen reader can read.
A logo image used as a link
Don't
<a href="/"><img src="logo.png" alt=""></a>A screen reader says: “link, slash”
Do
<a href="/"><img src="logo.png" alt="Acme home"></a>A screen reader says: “Acme home, link”
The image's alt text becomes the link's name.
Fixing it in design and content
Write names that say where the link goes
Don't
An icon link labelled "Click here" or "Icon".
A screen reader says: “Icon, link”
Do
An icon link labelled by its destination, like "Instagram" or "Download the annual report".
A screen reader says: “Instagram, link”
A clear name tells people where they'll land before they click.
Designer's handoff note
For every icon-only link, write the words a screen reader should say, and add them to the design spec.
Consider showing a visible text label next to icons. It helps everyone, not just screen reader users.
Quick test
Tool
NVDA (opens in a new tab) (free on Windows) or VoiceOver (opens in a new tab) (on every Mac)
Checklist
- Pass
- Every link says a clear name, like "Cart, link".
- Fail
- You hear just "link", "unlabelled" or a web address.
What a green scan still misses
A scanner can tell a link has a name. It can't tell if the name is clear — "Icon" or "Click here" still passes.
Reference
- Rule ID
link-name- Raised by
- axe-core: “Links must have discernible text”
- Lighthouse: “Links have a discernible name”
- WCAG
- 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (opens in a new tab) · Level A · since WCAG 2.0
- 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (opens in a new tab) · Level A · since WCAG 2.0
- Other standards
- EN 301 549 9.2.4.4 · EN 301 549 9.4.1.2 · RGAA 6.2.1
- Last reviewed
- 14 October 2026