Link to something only if it helps meet the user’s need

Links (hyperlinks) are words or images that users can click to go to other content.

Links help people navigate digital services or products. But they can also reduce readability and increase cognitive load. For this reason, use them only when they support a user need.

Links are also important for search engine optimisation. Search engines use links to:

• discover webpages
• determine how they rank in search results.

Use text for links in most cases. These links are called anchor text.

Use images for links only if they meet a user need. If you do use images, accurately describe the link with alt text. Don’t describe the image itself.

Link to a different site only if essential

External links connect pages on a website to those on other domains. Use them only when they are an essential part of the user journey.

Include external links when the user needs:

• to complete their task on an external website
• to access original, authoritative information that’s provided by another government agency or external source.

Follow your agency’s external linking policy when linking to non-government websites. Avoid implying endorsement to commercial websites in external links.

Link to sources instead of duplicating them

When planning content, find out if similar information already exists. If it does, link to it rather than duplicating it.

Duplicated content is confusing because it’s not clear to the user which page is the authoritative source. This can cause users to abandon digital services.

Duplicated content also requires resources to maintain, as it can become out of date easily.

Link directly to the specific page that the user needs to go to, not the homepage. This is known as ‘deep linking’.

Include document title, file type and size when linking to files

Provide content in HTML format by default. This has benefits for both accessibility and maintenance. If a full HTML version of the file is not available, link to a summary page if it exists. 

There will be some situations in which you need to link to non-HTML documents and files. Give users the information they need to decide whether to download the file by providing the:

• document title (not the file name)
• the file type
• the file size in kilobytes (kB) or megabytes (MB).

Include all this information in the link text, but remember that this adds extra information for all users. Minimise the number of links where you can.

You don’t need to explain ‘kB’ and ‘MB’ as they are units of measurement. ‘PDF’, ‘DOCX’ and other common file types are widely recognised. If your website uses an unusual or specialist file type, consider explaining this in your support pages.

Take care when using file type icons

For some users, file type icons can be a useful way of recognising different kinds of files. These icons have disadvantages though:

• File type icons can create ‘clutter’ for users, including those who use assistive technology. This is especially true when there are lists of links.
• File type icons are images and require the same consideration for all images on websites. This includes alternative text.
• File type icons may require resources to apply and maintain. They can be difficult for content authors to use if your content management system does not apply them automatically.
• They may not support the branding or overall look and feel of your site. There is a large variety of icons available and selecting or designing an inappropriate icon may confuse users.

Write link text that makes the destination clear

Users scan content for links to understand what it is about. People who use assistive technologies often use the tab key to read from link to link. People who use screen readers often generate a list of links for quick navigation.

For these reasons, links need to make sense when read out of the context of surrounding content. Links like ‘click here’ or ‘more information’ don’t give the user any information about the destination.

Write link text that describes the destination in clear language. Match the content on the linked page so the user knows they have reached the right place.

Don’t use exit modals

An ‘exit modal’ or ‘exit pop-up’ is an alert that appears on the user’s browser when they select a link to an external website.

Don’t use these to tell users they are leaving your site when they use external links. Make it clear in your text that the link is external and explain why you have included it. These pop-ups interrupt users, overemphasise the transition and can make users feel lost and confused.

You should also consider developing a policy to explain to users how your site approaches and presents links to government and non-government content.

Include keywords at the start of links

People usually only read the first few words of links. Keep them concise and put the most important words at the start of the link.

Using relevant words at the start of links is called ‘frontloading’. Frontloading makes it easier for people to scan and find what they’re looking for. It also helps them to read and assess the link’s relevance.

Write links that are about a single idea, to help people to decide whether to click. Only link the keywords.

Put most links at the end of sentences

Links reduce readability because they are distracting. They also make it easy for users to click away before they have read all your content.

If it’s important for users to understand all your content, put links at the end of sentences.

If a link makes more sense at the start of a sentence, consider if everything in the sentence is essential. 

Write short calls to action that explain what they do

Use concise keywords for call-to-action text or buttons. Accurately describe what will happen next.

Link email addresses not names

To link to an email address, use the email address as the link text so it’s not mistaken for a website address. 

Use the mailto: prefix in the URL but not in the link text.

Open links in the same browser tab or window

Set links to open in the same browser window or tab by default. This prevents users from becoming disoriented and allows them to use the ‘back’ button if needed. This is the default behaviour for links created using the <a> (anchor) HTML tag.

Consider carefully how users move through your website before you set a link to open in a new tab or window. Whether a user decides to open a link in a new browser tab or window depends heavily on the task they are trying to complete. Some examples are:

• logging on to a secure website
• giving information that would disrupt a multi-step process, such as filling out a form
• downloading a document.

In all cases, give users contextual information in the link to explain why a link will open in a new window or tab.

Create internal links that support the user’s journey

Internal links connect pages on the same website. They help users and search engine find and navigate your content.

Build internal links to help users move through each stage of the user journey. Use them to help users:

• orient themselves when using your digital product or service
• move sequentially through a step-by-step task
• find information that’s directly related to a topic.

Use the same homepage links across the site

You must include a homepage link in your main navigation. This helps users when they become lost or want to start a new task.

Add homepage links to the agency name or site title and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms image. Place these links in the top left part of the page.

Add in-page links only if they help the user navigate

In-page links (anchor links or bookmark links) connect to content on the same page. Useful in-page links include:

• tables of contents
• back-to-top links.

In-page links can be helpful when content is lengthy. But they can also be disorienting if users expect to go to a different page. Test content with users. Shorter content may better meet their needs.