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WCAG 2.4.9 Link Purpose (Link Only)

AAA only: a link's purpose can be determined from its link text alone, without needing the surrounding context that 2.4.4 (AA) allows.

2.4.9 Level AAA Added in WCAG 2.0 1 automated rule

Anton StewartAuthor
Reviewed against the W3C Understanding document
Illustration: a layers icon, with WCAG 2.4.9 and Link Purpose
Table of contents

What WCAG 2.4.9 Requires

AAA only: a link's purpose can be determined from its link text alone, without needing the surrounding context that 2.4.4 (AA) allows.

How to Test It by Hand

List every link's text alone, with no surrounding sentence, and confirm its destination is still clear.

Common Failures

  • A "Read more" link only makes sense with the paragraph text around it, which fails the stricter AAA standard even though it may pass AA.

Testing WCAG 2.4.9 With AccessBell

AccessBell's scanner runs axe-core, which includes 1 rule that catch code-level failures of this criterion. Automated checks help you spot issues quickly; a person still needs to review what they cannot judge.

Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WCAG 2.4.9 require?

AAA only: a link's purpose can be determined from its link text alone, without needing the surrounding context that 2.4.4 (AA) allows.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 2.4.9 automatically?

Yes. AccessBell runs 1 automated rule that can catch failures of this criterion. A person still needs to check what automation cannot judge.

What level is WCAG 2.4.9?

Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

About the Author

Anton StewartAuthor

Contributor, AccessBell

Anton Stewart writes and reviews accessibility guides for the AccessBell blog, checked against the W3C standards and other primary sources.

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