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UDOIT - How to Resolve Link Errors

Using descriptive links on web pages is essential for accessibility. Descriptive links clearly explain the destination or purpose of the link, helping all users, including those with disabilities, understand where the link will take them. Instead of using vague phrases like "click here," use specific descriptions like "read our accessibility guide." This practice improves navigation and ensures that everyone can use your Canvas content effectively.

This guide is part of a series designed to help you address accessibility errors in Canvas using UDOIT. Each guide in the series provides step-by-step instructions and practical tips to ensure your Canvas courses are accessible to all users. You can find other documents in this series here: LINK

  1. What are Descriptive Links?
  2. How Do I Write a Descriptive Link Text? 
  3. How Do I Put a Link in Context?
  4. How do I Add Descriptive Text to Links with Canvas?
  5. How do I Add Descriptive Text to Links with UDOIT?

 

What are Descriptive Links?

Descriptive links use real text as a placeholder for a link instead of simply pasting a URL on your Canvas page.  For example, you can say "Please use Google to search" instead of simply copying the "google.com" link onto your page.

When you copy and paste a URL from a website, it will sometimes paste into your page as a descriptive link. For example, when I paste the UW-Superior Library homepage it says: Home - Library - Jim Dan Hill Library at University of Wisconsin - Superior

How Do I Write Descriptive Link Text?

Bad Descriptive Text

"Click Here","Visit this page", and "Link" are examples of link texts that are commonly used but are not descriptive. Your link text should be specific to the resource you are sending people to visit. If you could change the link destination to a completely different topic without editing your text, it is not descriptive enough.

Another common issue is including the entire URL as the link text. This is frustrating for students accessing your context through a screen reader as it reads the entire URL aloud. URLs are not always easy to interpret, so the purpose or destination of the link may be unclear for all readers. 

Better Descriptive Text

Here are some examples from the World Wide Web Consortium which provides the WCAG guidelines:

A link contains text that gives a description of the information at that URL:

A page contains the sentence "There was much bloodshed during the Medieval period of history." Where "Medieval period of history" is a link.

A link is preceded by a text description of the information at that URL:

A page contains the sentence "Learn more about the Government of Ireland's Commission on Electronic Voting at Go Vote!" where "Go Vote!" is a link. 

A list of book titles:

A list of books is available in three formats: HTML, PDF, and mp3 (a recording of a person reading the book). To avoid hearing the title of each book three times (once for each format), the first link for each book is the title of the book, the second link says "PDF" and the third says, "mp3."

— WCAG 2.1 Understanding Link in Context

How Do I Put a Link in Context on a Canvas Page?

No Context Links Example

The Canvas Page below has a few issues with its links:

  • The linked Britannica article URL is not descriptive.
  • There is no explanation of what the student should do with the content on the page.
  • There is no explanation of why the student is interacting with this content.
Screenshot of a Canvas page with a link to an article on Food webs, an assignment titled food webs and an image of a food web.
This page requires a student to guess how you want them to interact with the context which can be frustrating and lead to miscommunication.

Better Context Example

In this version of the page the links are all descriptive links and clear instructions have been added to tell the student how they should interact with the content. 

The same content is present on this page but simple instructions are added to show how the students should interact with the links.
By adding simple instructions such as "Read this article" and "Complete this assignment", the actions you want your students to take are much clearer.

Best Context Example

In this final version of the page, we have added much more information that tells the student what you want them to focus on when they click on your links. This will make the purpose clear for all students.

This version of the page has headings and breaks the task into sub-steps with specific directions of how to interact with the context to meet instructional goals.
By breaking up the task into sub-steps and giving a specific purpose for reading the linked article, you will likely increase the number of students who will click on the link.

Below is a screenshot of two links that would not be accessible to all users. 

Screenshot of a canvas page with a link that says click here and a non-descriptive url.
Descriptive links make your course more accessible for every user.

How do I Add Descriptive Text to Links with Canvas?

When you paste a URL link into your Canvas page, it will often provide a descriptive text. If your page has a non-descriptive link, hover over the link until a menu appears. Click Link Options to open a side panel where you can edit the link text. 

Screenshot of the url with pop up menu above offering link options and remove link Screenshot of the Link options side panel with the full text url in the link text textbox.
Use this tool to modify a single page of a Canvas course.

How do I Add Descriptive Text to Links with UDOIT?

The first link was inaccessible because the text “link” did not indicate where the link would lead. To resolve the error, add descriptive text using the New Link Text textbox in the UDOIT error screen.

Screenshot of the Link has non-descriptive text error box with the words link highlighted in yellow. Screenshot of the resolved non-descriptive text error box with descriptive text added.
Links with text such as "this link" or "visit this page" would also trigger this error alert.

The second link used the whole text of the URL link instead of descriptive text. Although this does technically tell the user where the link leads, it is not as clear as descriptive text. To resolve the error, add descriptive text to the link.

Screenshot of non-descript text error page with the full text url highlighted in yellow. Screenshot of the error resolved page with new descripteive text added.
If you have many links without descriptive text, UDOIT is a great way to fix this type of error across your whole course by clicking Next Issue on the bottom right corner of the error screen.

Keywords:
Accessibility, URL, descriptive text 
Doc ID:
149913
Owned by:
Kasey S. in UW Superior
Created:
2025-04-16
Updated:
2025-06-25
Sites:
UW Superior