Links

Use links to point users to relevant content and trusted external resources.

Guidelines #

  • Navigation links should be clear and concise.
  • Ensure that links succinctly and accurately describe the content that they are linking to.
    • Avoid using some of the following phrases for link text:
      • "Learn more" , "Read more" ("Learn More" about what? "Read More" about what? These do not tell the user enough.)
      • "View link" , "Click Here" (Users are aware that they are using a link, such text is repetitive and undescriptive. Users with assistive technology are told when they encounter a link.)
    • Examples of better, more descriptive and clear phrases for link text:
      • "Continue onto step 2"
      • "Read more about our research"
      • "Learn about our scholarships"
      • "View the alumni page"
  • If linking to anything other than another web page, such as a PDF file or audio file, make sure the link indicates what will happen when the user clicks the link. Example link text: "Download Course Outline (PDF)".
  • A link that points out to any external website (including other WVU websites) from your website should open in a new tab or window. Pages in your website (internal pages), including PDF files and other files, should open in the same tab or window.
  • Do not make your link text the URL you are linking to. Doing so may cause some screen readers and assistive technology to read out each individual letter of your words, in an attempt to read the URL as a word.
  • If a link comes at the end of a sentence or before a comma, do not link the punctuation mark.
  • Do not include preceding articles (a, an, the, our) when you link text. Example:
  • Do not use all caps. Doing so may cause some screen readers and assistive technology to read out each individual letter of your words, instead of the full words themselves.
  • Leave the "Anchor / querystring" property blank.

Use links within your content to point users to relevant content and trusted external resources.

Learn About Inserting Links in the Editor

A link that points out to any external website from your website (including other WVU websites) should open in a new tab or window. Pages in your website (Internal pages), including PDF files and other files, should open in the same tab or window.

  1. Select the word or phrase that you want to link or that is already linked.
  2. Click the  Insert/edit link icon.
  3. Click the checkbox under "Target".

If you have any questions or issues with this please email CMS Desk.

Accessibility #

  • Ensure links succinctly and accurately describe the content they are linking to.
  • Links to external websites should always open in a new window or tab.
  • Do not use all caps.
  • Do not include preceding articles (a, an, the, our).
  • Do not include punctuation (periods, commas, exclamation points, question marks, etc.)
  • Do not make your link text the URL you are linking to.
  • Avoid phrases like "Click Here", "Learn More", "View Link".