Components

Link accessibility tests

Any USWDS link should pass these manual accessibility tests.

Passed WCAG 2.1 AA

Link accessibility status

The USWDS team did 4 tests based on WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria.

Overview of recent accessibility test results:

Total tests	Passed	Passed with exceptions	Conditional	Failed
4	3	0	1	0

Overview of recent accessibility test results:

• Passed: 3
• Passed with exceptions: 0
• Conditional: 1
• Failed: 0

Test the link in your project

USWDS tests components in isolation. You need to test the link component in the context of your own site to ensure compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards.

Use the checklist below.

Follow the "how to test" instructions for each type of assistive technology.

Anyone can test for accessibility.

These quick manual tests don't require special equipment.

Link accessibility checklist

• General tests
• Keyboard navigation tests

General tests

Select passing tests

Color is not the only method used to indicate links. When you view the link and determine what your link’s location is, you can tell where the link is without relying on color.

• WCAG A
• 1.4.1 Use of color
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

Both the purpose and destination of the link are clearly indicated by the text. When viewing the link, you can determine the link’s purpose and where the link will take you.

This can only be tested in your implementation of the component. Be sure to test this in your project.

• WCAG A
• 1.3.1 Info and relationships
• USWDS test status: Conditional
• Last test: v3.5.0

• USWDS test status:
  Conditional
• Last test: v3.5.0

Keyboard navigation tests

USWDS performed these tests to check link accessibility and usability for keyboard navigation. For help performing your own keyboard navigation tests, check out the resources in the expandable section below.

1. Navigate to a page on your website where the link component is used.
2. Using only your keyboard, press tab to navigate forward or shift + tab to navigate backwards until focus is on the link.
3. Use the testing checklist to make sure all functionality works with keyboard navigation.

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For instruction for using keyboard navigation, use this resource from WebAIM.

Select passing tests

The link is operable using the enter and spacebar keys. When you use your tab key for navigation and press enter or spacebar for interaction, the link gets selected.

• WCAG A
• 2.1.1 Keyboard
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

Focus indicator is clearly visible on links. When using the tab key and navigating between links, a focus indicator appears around each link that gets selected.

• WCAG AA
• 2.4.7 Focus visible
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.5.0

Share your feedback

• Propose a new test
• Report an error

Latest updates

Meaningful code and guidance updates are listed in the following table:

Date	USWDS version	Affects	Breaking	Description
2024-01-17	N/A	Guidance	No	Added accessibility tests page. More information: uswds-site#2138