Empty links and buttons
type: TechArticle
description: A link or button with no accessible name is invisible to screen readers and unreachable for voice control. Icon-only controls without a label are the usual culprit.
language: en
is part of: Web Specification Studio
author: Web Specification Studio
publisher: Web Specification Studio
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date modified: 2026-05-29T09:13:20.000Z
citation: WCAG 2.4.4 — Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A)
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C
citation: WCAG 4.1.2 — Name, Role, Value (Level A)
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C
citation: Accessibility Checker — Empty Link
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: Equalize Digital
citation: Accessibility Checker — Empty Button
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: Equalize Digital

Web Specification Studio
type: WebSite

Web Specification Studio
type: Organization

breadcrumb
type: BreadcrumbList
item list element: Home
  type: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: https://webspecification.com/
item list element: Spec
  type: ListItem
  position: 2
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/
item list element: Accessibility
  type: ListItem
  position: 3
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/
item list element: Empty links and buttons
  type: ListItem
  position: 4
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/empty-links-buttons/