A link annotation must include an alternate description in its Contents entry
Rule ID:
alt-link-annotation
Ruleset:
axe-pdf 2.0
User Impact:
Critical
Guidelines:
WCAG 2.1 (A), WCAG 2.0 (A), PDF/UA
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Compliance Data & Impact
Disabilities Affected
- Blind
- Deafblind
- Mobility
Standard(s)
- WCAG 2.1 (A)
- WCAG 2.0 (A)
- PDF/UA
WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.1 (A)]
- 2.4.4: SHOULD: Link Purpose (In Context)
WCAG Success Criteria [WCAG 2.0 (A)]
- 2.4.4: SHOULD: Link Purpose (In Context)
How to Fix the Problem
In Adobe Acrobat Pro:
- Right click on the Link tag and choose Properties.
- Within the Object Properties, under the Tag tab, choose Edit Tag.
- Navigate to the Object Dictionary within the Tag Element and click New Item.
- In the Key field, type “Contents”. In the Value field, type your alternate link description. In the Value Type field, select “String” from the drop-down menu.
Why it Matters
Screen readers are able to read visible link text, but in certain cases an additional link description is needed if the link text is ambiguous (i.e. “click here”).
Rule Description
Ensure that a link annotation includes an alternate description
The Algorithm (in simple terms)
If the visible link text is unclear, add a link description within the Contents key.
Resources
Deque University Course Pages (subscription required)
No related course information available.
Refer to the complete list of axe 2.0 rules.
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