Re: Are links should underline all the time?

Hi Corey and Kiran,

WCAG also mentions another failure. F73: Failure of Success Criterion 1.4.1
due to creating links that are not visually evident without color vision.

https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/F73.html

There is also a note as Note: If the visual cue is only provided on hover,
it would still fail.

Underline or Bold is the preferred visual clue.

2 techniques related to this are:

   - G182: Ensuring that additional visual cues are available when text
   color differences are used to convey information
   <https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G182.html>
   - G183: Using a contrast ratio of 3:1 with surrounding text and
   providing additional visual cues on focus for links or controls where color
   alone is used to identify them
   <https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G183.html>

Thanks to Patrick for the example link. It's a clear failure case.

Thanks and Regards,
Herin

On Mon, Jul 3, 2017 at 8:43 AM, Corey Collins <ccollins@usc.edu.au> wrote:

> Hi Kiran
>
>
>
> My understanding, and I am happy to be corrected, is if you have
> sufficient contrast between your link colour and your background colour
> (Success Criterion 1.4.3 and 1.4.6), plus sufficient contrast between your
> body text and link text colour (3:1), you can provide a link with no
> underline as long as there is an additional differentiation (underline)
> when the link receives hover/focus.
>
>
>
> Further detail: G183: Using a contrast ratio of 3:1 with surrounding text
> and providing additional visual cues on focus for links or controls where
> color alone is used to identify them
> <https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G183.html>
>
> Examples
>
> *Example 1: Colors that would provide 3:1 contrast with black words and
> 4.5:1 contrast with a white background*
>
> Refer to *Links with a 3:1 contrast ratio with surrounding text
> <https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/Techniques/working-examples/G183/link-contrast.html>*
>
>
>
> If in doubt, the preferred technique is to use underlines for links.
>
>
>
> I’m not a fan of links with no underline in content but I have had an
> example at work, which I believe I could not fail and as a result, could
> not change the business owner’s decision. I’ll persist for a change anyway
> ☺
>
>
>
> Hope that helps.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> *Corey Collins*
> Web Accessibility Specialist
>
> Student Services and Engagement
> USC
>
> Ph +61 7 5456 5383 <+61%207%205456%205383>
> ccollins@usc.edu.au
> usc.edu.au <http://www.usc.edu.au/>
>
> University of the Sunshine Coast CRICOS Provider No. 01595D
>
>
>
> *From: *Kiran <kiranph@gmail.com>
> *Date: *Saturday, 1 July 2017 at 4:46 am
> *To: *w3c WAI List <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
> *Subject: *Are links should underline all the time?
> *Resent-From: *<w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
> *Resent-Date: *Saturday, 1 July 2017 at 4:47 am
>
>
>
> Hey All,
>
>
>
> I need expert advice in learning and more clarifying the concept of WCAG
> 1.4.1 Link treatment.
>
>
>
> As per https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/F73.html , if links do not have
> underline or other visual cues will it be a failure?
>
>
>
> so If I have added a link in the paragraph where body text is black while
> the link within this paragraph is blue ( enough CCR), will that be a
> failure to WCAG 1.4.1 if I don't provide underline to this link?
>
>
>
> So does that mean, links should always be underlined in a paragraph or in
> a sentence?
>
>
>
> I was under the assumption that if links have a different color, plus it
> shows underline(or any visual clue) on hover/focus, should be okay and
> passes WCAG 1.4.1.
>
>
>
> https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/F73.html
>
>
>
> I appreciate your opinion in clearing my confusion on this.
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
> USC, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia.
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