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How to fix

How to fix links with no discernible text

A link a screen reader announces as just "link" tells the user nothing. This usually happens with icon-only links and image links. Here is how to fix each case.

Find links with no accessible name, free scan.

Why this fails

WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value require every link to have text that conveys where it goes. The common failures:

  • Icon-only links: a social or menu link that is just an <svg> with no text.
  • Image links with no alt: a logo or thumbnail wrapped in a link, where the image has empty or missing alt.
  • Empty links: an <a> with no content at all.

How to fix it

Give the link an accessible name. For an icon-only link, add aria-label:

<a href="/cart" aria-label="View cart">
  <svg aria-hidden="true">...</svg>
</a>

Mark the decorative icon aria-hidden="true" so it is not announced separately. For an image link, describe the destination in the image's alt:

<a href="/"><img src="logo.svg" alt="Home"></a>

If a link has visible text, prefer that over an aria-label. Avoid vague text like "click here" or "read more" on its own, since those fail 2.4.4 in context.

Check it across your site

Run the free scan above to list every link with no accessible name, with the element shown. Fix the markup and re-scan. The same checks run as a browser extension and a CI gate, so a new icon link cannot slip through.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make an icon-only link accessible?

Add an aria-label describing the destination, and mark the icon itself aria-hidden="true" so it is not announced twice.

Is "click here" an accessibility problem?

It can be. Link text should make sense on its own, since screen-reader users often navigate by a list of links. Describe the destination instead.

Does an image inside a link need alt text?

Yes. When the image is the only content of the link, its alt text becomes the link's accessible name, so it should describe where the link goes.

Which WCAG criteria does this cover?

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value.

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Last updated 2026-06-26.