Poor quality hypertext is a usability disaster causing annoyance, confusion, and anxiety. Users expect links, and that the links will be relevant and useful. A good hyperlink is relevant to the surrounding text and provides enough information for the user to make an informed decision about whether to leave the current page they’re on and follow.
Here’s an example of a useful hyperlink:
1 For excellent examples of finely crafted hypertext
2 look no further than kottke.org,
3 the online home of Jason Kottke.
For excellent examples of finely crafted hypertext
look no further than kottke.org,
the online home of Jason Kottke.
The linked text must have relevance, as it’s the first hint the user will receive as to the nature of the link. The test of good link text is whether it can stand alone on a page, outside of the hypertext of which it’s a part, and still make sense.
Links must also be styled differently to the surrounding text. They can be another color than blue, as long as it’s different to the normal text, and that all the links in the page are the same color, so they’ll be clearly visible.
A title attribute is optional, but should be used independently from providing a context because the tool tip only appears when using the mouse. If the link text is sufficient, it’s unnecessary anyway.
Well-crafted hypertext is simple to read and use, and frankly, simple to create! Are you guilty of crimes against hypertext?
Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts -
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