Skip to main content
RAWEBA

6.1 Is every link explicit (except in special cases)?

WCAG references
  • 1.1.1 Non-text Content (A)
  • 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (A)
  • 2.5.3 Label in Name (A)
Techniques
  • ARIA7
  • ARIA8
  • C7
  • F63
  • F89
  • F96
  • G53
  • G91
  • G208
  • G211
  • H30
  • H33
  • H77
  • H78
  • H79
  • H80
  • H81

Official methodology to test criterion 6.1

Test 1 (6.1.1)

  1. Find the text links in the document.
  2. For each text link, check that the information used to understand the function and destination of the link is
    • either the accessible name of the link alone;
    • or the link context.
  3. If this is the case for each text link, the test is validated.

Test 2 (6.1.2)

  1. Find the image links in the document (link with the content of an <img> element or an element with the WAI-ARIA role="img" attribute, an <area> element with a href attribute, an <object> element, a <canvas> element or a <svg> element).
  2. For each image link, check that the information used to understand its function and destination is
    • either the accessible name of the link alone, provided by the text alternative (image);
    • or the link context.
  3. If this is the case for each image link, the test is validated.

Test 3 (6.1.3)

  1. Find composite links in the document (links made up of both text content and image elements).
  2. For each composite link, check that the information used to understand the function and destination of the link is
    • either the accessible name of the link alone, provided by the combination of the text content and the alternative text for the image;
    • or the link context.
  3. If this is the case for each composite link, the test is validated.

Test 4 (6.1.4)

  1. Find SVG links in the document (<svg> element which has an <a> element with a xlink-href attribute (SVG 1.1) or href (SVG 2)).
  2. For each SVG link, check that what makes it possible to understand the function and destination of the link is
    • either the accessible name of the link alone, provided by the accessible name of the <svg> element (generally resolved from the content of a <text> element);
    • or the link context.
  3. If this is the case for each SVG link, the test is validated.

Test 5 (6.1.5)

  1. Find in the document links other than SVG whose content is provided both by a visible label and by the content of either a title attribute, an aria-label attribute or an aria-labelledby attribute.
  2. For each link, check that the value of the title attribute or the aria-label attribute or the aria-labelledby attribute contains the visible label.
  3. If this is the case for each link, the test is validated for links other than SVG.
  4. Find in the document the SVG links whose content is provided both by a visible label and by the content of either an aria-labelledby attribute, or an aria-label attribute or a title element (direct child of the <svg> element) or an x-link:title attribute (SVG 1.1) or one or more <text> elements.
  5. For each SVG link, check that the value of the aria-labelledby attribute or the aria-label attribute or the <title> element or the x-link:title attribute or one or more <text> elements contains the visible label.
  6. If this is the case for each SVG link, the test is validated for the SVG links.
  7. If the test is validated for both non-SVG links and SVG links, the test is validated overall.

Test 6 (6.1.6)

  1. Find links with identical accessible names in the document.
  2. For identical links, check that they all lead to the same destination or to similar content.
  3. If not, check that the context of each link allows them to be distinguished.
  4. If this is the case, the test is validated.