Make every link easy to tap and easy to read
What the web accessibility guidelines say about tap size, link text and contrast, turned into a short checklist for your link page.
A link page is a list of things to tap. If the buttons are small, crowded or hard to read, people tap the wrong one or give up. The web accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.2) give three simple checks.
Give each link room to be tapped
WCAG 2.2 asks that targets for pointer input are at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, with some exceptions. One exception covers smaller targets that have enough space around them (W3C).
The W3C lists who this helps. That includes people who mainly use a touchscreen and people using a phone somewhere that shakes, such as public transport (W3C).
24 pixels is the minimum, not the aim. The W3C recommends meeting the size rule even when spacing would let you off. For important controls, it suggests aiming for its stricter Enhanced level (W3C).
Say where each link goes
The guidelines ask that the purpose of each link can be worked out from its text, or from the text around it (W3C).
The W3C notes that assistive technology, such as a screen reader, can list all the links on a page (W3C). In that list, five links that all say "Click here" tell the listener nothing. "Book a haircut" or "Shop the autumn range" tells them everything.
The W3C also calls it good practice to use the same text for links that go to the same place, and different text for links that go to different places.
Make the text easy to read
For normal text, WCAG asks for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between the text and its background. Large text needs at least 3:1 (W3C). Pale grey text on white, or white text on a light photo, can fall short.
An online contrast checker will tell you the ratio for any two colours. Check your button colours and any text that sits on a photo.
A quick checklist
- Every button is at least 24 by 24 pixels, and ideally bigger.
- Buttons have clear space between them.
- Every label says what the link does.
- Text and buttons meet the contrast ratios above.
Where we're going with this
We're building Frontpin with these checks in mind. It isn't built yet, and the checklist works for any link page.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding Success Criterion 2.5.8, Target Size (Minimum)
- W3C: Understanding Success Criterion 2.4.4, Link Purpose (In Context)
- W3C: Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3, Contrast (Minimum)
Sources checked on 27 October 2026. Drafted with AI and checked by our team.