I remember that I often got confused in the early days of Wikipedia because the way they use link text was different from what was common on the web back in the day.
One reason they omit is that, by default, bookmark text is (was? I hardly bookmark any more) the text of the link. So, if you don't curate your bookmarks carefully, you get a folder full of bookmarks called "Click here!"
I feel like a link should be used for more information retrieval; therefore, the link should be descriptive of its forthcoming content. Instead of using a link as a call to action, shouldn't it be a button? This feels more "pure" in the semantic web context.
If you think about this from an accessibility point of view, screen readers for blind users present a linear view of a page. To escape from the linear view, they also typically allow users to access lists of elements like headers and links, out of context of their original position. If every link is labelled “click here” then you’re effectively removing non-linear access from those users.
Assuming that all their examples are consistent and actually download "Amaya", I'd prefer simply the hyperlink [Download Amaya](http://link-to-file).
Preferably with a download icon to indicate that it's going to be the actual file and not just a link to another page with the real download button hidden among 4 ads that are just download buttons.
W3C missed the biggest problems (IMHO) with "click here"
* It's only 10 char and much too short for someone to click when it's inline with other links. Let's not mention text squirming around the screen via molasses JS, kicking your text up, down, and around the screen for several seconds before those short 10 chars finally become stationary.
* With high resolution touch screens, you're maybe 80% accurate on actually clicking right there. Again, my accuracy is my fat finger, and nearby links are just UI landmines.
If, somehow, you have multiple links in a sentence, see if you can manage a word or two of unlinked text in between, or, better yet, stop being pretentious and focus on usefulness.
Not: _You can run web browsers,_ _spreadsheets_ or _drawing software._
I like it when pages tell me to "click here". It is clear and direct communication that doesn't assume I will infer exactly where I'm supposed to click for what thing. Not everyone sees or intuitively understands things the same way you do.
The rule I follow is to write in a way that if all links were removed, it would still make sense. So “click here” never happens, because you can’t click text which isn’t a link.
With that singular idea in mind, everything else falls into place naturally.
I get it that "click here" is not descriptive, but so is simply linking "Amaya". What is it? A person? A fruit?
People don't read websites linearly, in the best case they skim read all the buttons and links. I personally would include the verb as it gives important context and is a clearer CTA for the "skimmers".
Personally, I prefer the second example that they advise against. ("To download Amaya, go to the _Amaya_Website_ and get the necessary software.")
A link that just says "Amaya" could be an internal or external link, and even if it's clear from context that the purpose of following the link is to download Amaya (rather than, for example, read more about it), it's not clear whether it's a direct link to the file or a link to the download page.
Now that I paste it in this HN comment, the link is gone. If it had said "To get Amaya, click here!" at least you could have seen from the context that it used to be a link.
There's also no explanation in it for why making a verb a link would be bad while nouns are ok.
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[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 87.4 ms ] thread“Click here” is just the start. Bold, red, and blinking. People barely read, let alone process what they’re reading. “Click here” is at least simple.
[1] https://design.homeoffice.gov.uk/accessibility/links
I feel like a link should be used for more information retrieval; therefore, the link should be descriptive of its forthcoming content. Instead of using a link as a call to action, shouldn't it be a button? This feels more "pure" in the semantic web context.
Click here for screen reader accessible version
It’s like… ‘click here. No, here. Left a bit. Almost. Come on, you can get it. What are you, blind or something?’
> contributed Sep 2001 by Aaron Swartz
Thoughts
-- this advice is 24 years old (and I think largely ignored)
-- Aaron Swartz (!)
Preferably with a download icon to indicate that it's going to be the actual file and not just a link to another page with the real download button hidden among 4 ads that are just download buttons.
> To download W3C's editor/browser Amaya, [click here].
This gives you an option, where multiple options may be available.
> To download Amaya, go to the [Amaya Website] and get the necessary software.
This is even better, as 'click here' assumes the input device.
> Get [Amaya]!
Whilst being simpler, it does not make clear that the action is optional.
Whether I click something may require some additional information around the link, for example:
> To download W3C's free editor/browser Amaya, go to the [Amaya Website] and select the latest version on the home page.
Now I know that it's free, and I have instructions to carry out to find what I'm looking for.
* It's only 10 char and much too short for someone to click when it's inline with other links. Let's not mention text squirming around the screen via molasses JS, kicking your text up, down, and around the screen for several seconds before those short 10 chars finally become stationary.
* With high resolution touch screens, you're maybe 80% accurate on actually clicking right there. Again, my accuracy is my fat finger, and nearby links are just UI landmines.
————- Learn more about [the browser]
Never hear about [the browser] again
Those links will do very different things.
is preferable to any shorter link.
If, somehow, you have multiple links in a sentence, see if you can manage a word or two of unlinked text in between, or, better yet, stop being pretentious and focus on usefulness.
Not: _You can run web browsers,_ _spreadsheets_ or _drawing software._
You can run:
* _web browsers_
* _spreadsheets_
* _drawing software_
With that singular idea in mind, everything else falls into place naturally.
People don't read websites linearly, in the best case they skim read all the buttons and links. I personally would include the verb as it gives important context and is a clearer CTA for the "skimmers".
Amaya is W3C's... "Download Amaya"!
A link that just says "Amaya" could be an internal or external link, and even if it's clear from context that the purpose of following the link is to download Amaya (rather than, for example, read more about it), it's not clear whether it's a direct link to the file or a link to the download page.
Now that I paste it in this HN comment, the link is gone. If it had said "To get Amaya, click here!" at least you could have seen from the context that it used to be a link.
There's also no explanation in it for why making a verb a link would be bad while nouns are ok.