DOFIW HTML ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS
Link Text Checker
Paste HTML to find empty links, vague phrases, exposed URLs, conflicting names, repeated text for different destinations, and links that may surprise users.
Paste or try an HTML sample
Paste a fragment or complete HTML document. The checker reads markup only; it never opens or verifies the destinations.
Review link purpose and behavior
Detected links
- Run the checker to list links.
Findings and improvements
- No analysis yetINFO
Paste HTML or load an example, then select Check link text.
Errors identify links without a usable name or ARIA references that cannot work. Warnings flag language and behavior that need review in the surrounding sentence and page context.
INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
What the checker reads and reports
Input
HTML containing anchor elements or custom elements using role="link", including linked images and ARIA naming references.
Output
A link inventory with accessible names, destinations, naming methods, source lines, errors, contextual warnings, and suggested improvements.
The tool does not visit destinations. It evaluates whether the purpose is reasonably understandable from the link’s accessible name and highlights cases where surrounding context must be checked manually.
BETTER LINK WORDING
Name the destination or action
People often scan a page or navigate through a list of links without reading every surrounding sentence. Descriptive text makes that link list useful on its own and helps everyone predict what will happen.
RESULT EXPLANATIONS
What each finding means
Empty accessible name
The link may be announced only as “link,” with no clue about its purpose. Add meaningful text or an appropriate image alternative.
Generic wording
Phrases such as “click here” or “read more” depend heavily on nearby content. Replace them with the destination or action when possible.
Same text, different targets
Identical names leading to unrelated destinations can be confusing in a link list. Add the topic or item name to each one.
New window without notice
Opening a new browsing context can be unexpected. Consider informing users when that behavior is essential.
USE CASES
Where a link-text review helps
- Review WordPress posts containing repeated “Read more” links.
- Check menus, cards, download lists, footnotes, and calls to action.
- Inspect image links after changing thumbnails or logos.
- Find ARIA names that conflict with visible link wording.
- Create an actionable content-editing report without crawling the website.
LIMITATIONS
Context still requires a person
- A short name may be understandable from its enclosing sentence, list item, table cell, or heading even when it looks vague in isolation.
- External styles and generated content are not applied, so the tool cannot reliably determine which text is visually hidden.
- JavaScript routing and click handlers are not executed, and destinations are not opened or checked for validity.
- The accessible-name calculation is a focused approximation rather than a complete browser accessibility-tree implementation.
- Passing this check does not establish complete WCAG or legal compliance.
PRIVACY
Your HTML stays in your browser
All parsing and analysis happen locally in your browser. Pasted HTML, link destinations, and reports are not uploaded, stored, or sent to an API. Clipboard access occurs only when you choose to copy the report.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about meaningful links
Is “Learn more” always inaccessible?
No. Its purpose may be clear from programmatically associated context, but repeated generic links are often harder to understand and navigate. Specific wording is usually more robust.
Can an image provide a link name?
Yes. For an image-only link, meaningful alternative text can name the destination or action. An empty or missing alternative leaves the link unnamed unless another naming method is present.
Should the link text be the full URL?
Usually a human-readable destination name is easier to scan and hear. Showing the URL can be appropriate when the URL itself is information the reader needs.
Can aria-label improve vague visible text?
It may provide more context to assistive technology, but inconsistent visible and spoken wording can create other problems. Prefer improving the visible text for everyone.
Must every new-tab link announce the behavior?
This checker treats it as a review warning, not an automatic failure. Decide whether the change of context is necessary and likely to surprise users.
Does the tool verify whether a link is broken?
No. It does not send requests or open URLs. It analyzes only names, declared destinations, and related markup in the pasted HTML.
This tool is an educational testing aid and does not guarantee WCAG conformance or legal compliance. Read the W3C guidance for link purpose.