WCAG 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only): Make Every Link Self-Descriptive

Last updated: 2026-03-27

Level AAA Operable WCAG 2.4.9

What This Criterion Requires

WCAG 2.4.9 requires that the purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone, without needing any surrounding context. This is an enhanced version of the Level AA criterion 2.4.4, which allows link purpose to be determined from the link text together with its programmatically determined context. Meeting 2.4.9 means that every link on the page must have text that clearly describes where the link goes or what it does, even when read in isolation. This benefits screen reader users who navigate by pulling up a list of all links on the page, where surrounding paragraph text is not available. It also helps users with cognitive disabilities who may struggle to infer link destinations from context, and it improves the experience for anyone scanning a page quickly. Common violations include generic link text such as 'click here', 'read more', 'learn more', and 'here', which convey no meaning when separated from their surrounding sentences. Fixing these issues requires rewriting link text to include the specific topic or destination, and in some cases restructuring content so that each link's purpose is self-evident.

Why It Matters

Screen readers provide a feature that lists all links on a page, allowing users to quickly scan available navigation options without reading entire paragraphs. When this list contains multiple entries labeled 'Read more' or 'Click here', the user has no way to distinguish between them or predict where each link leads. This forces screen reader users to navigate back to each link's surrounding text to understand its purpose, which is extremely time-consuming. Users with cognitive disabilities also benefit from clear, descriptive link text because they may not retain enough surrounding context to infer link meaning. Beyond accessibility, self-descriptive link text improves usability for all visitors and strengthens SEO, as search engines use link text to understand the relationship between pages. Writing clear link text is one of the simplest and most impactful improvements you can make to your website's accessibility.

Common Failures and How to Fix Them

Generic 'Read more' or 'Click here' link text

Links use vague, generic text that provides no information about the destination when read out of context. A link list from a screen reader would show multiple identical entries with no way to differentiate them.

Inaccessible 
<p>We published our annual report. <a href="/report-2025">Click here</a> to read it.</p>
<p>Check out our new accessibility guide. <a href="/guide">Read more</a></p>
Accessible 
<p>We published our <a href="/report-2025">2025 Annual Report</a>.</p>
<p>Check out our <a href="/guide">Web Accessibility Quick-Start Guide</a>.</p>

URLs used as link text

Raw URLs are used as the visible link text. These are difficult to read, especially for screen reader users who hear every character spoken aloud, and they convey no meaning about the linked content.

Inaccessible 
<p>Visit <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/">https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/</a> for details.</p>
Accessible 
<p>Visit the <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/">W3C WCAG Standards and Guidelines</a> for details.</p>

Image links without descriptive alt text

Links that contain only an image use empty or non-descriptive alt text, so the link's purpose cannot be determined. Screen readers may announce only 'link' or the image filename.

Inaccessible 
<a href="/cart">
  <img src="/icons/cart.svg" alt="icon">
</a>
Accessible 
<a href="/cart">
  <img src="/icons/cart.svg" alt="View shopping cart (3 items)">
</a>

How to Test

  1. Use a screen reader (NVDA, VoiceOver, JAWS) to open the links list dialog and verify that every link's purpose is clear from its text alone.
  2. Review all link text on the page and check whether each one makes sense without reading the surrounding sentence or paragraph.
  3. Run an automated accessibility scanner to flag generic link text like 'click here', 'read more', 'learn more', 'here', and 'more info'.
  4. Check image-only links to verify the image alt text describes the link destination, not just the image content.

CMS-Specific Guidance

This criterion commonly causes issues on these platforms:

Further Reading

Related WCAG Criteria