The <a> Element
The <a> element (or anchor element), with its href attribute, creates a hyperlink to web pages, files, email addresses, locations in the same page, or anything else a URL can address.
Visit the SimpleAccess Homepage to see native standards in action.
<a href="index.html">SimpleAccess Homepage</a>
View HTML Living Standard: The a element
WCAG Best Practices: Link Purpose
To ensure links are accessible, the purpose of each link must be determinable from the link text alone, or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context.
- Descriptive Text: Avoid vague labels like "Click Here".
- Consistent Identification: Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages should be identified consistently.
WCAG Requirement: Link Purpose
Success Criterion 2.4.4 (Level A): The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context.
Understand SC 2.4.4: Link PurposeVisual Indicators & Contrast
Links must be visually distinct from regular text. Relying on color alone to distinguish a link is a failure of accessibility standards.
WCAG Requirement: Use of Color
Success Criterion 1.4.1 (Level A): Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
Best Practice: Always use underlines or a secondary visual marker (like an icon) for links within body text.
Understand SC 1.4.1: Use of ColorInteractive Protocols
Beyond standard URLs, anchors support specialized protocols for device interaction:
Email Support
Call Support
<a href="mailto:support@simpleaccess.io">Email Support</a>
<a href="tel:+15550001234">Call Support</a>