Skip Link

Demo

Example Text

Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid. Don't worry, he'll be all right. What happened? Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate you're still in one piece. Ben? Ben Kenobi!

HTML Code

<a class="hidden" id="skipLink" href="#demomain">Skip to content</a>
<div id="content">
	<nav>
	<ul>
		<li><a href="#">Main</a></li>
		<li><a href="#">Things</a></li>
		<li><a href="#">Stuff</a></li>
		<li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
	</ul>
</nav>
	<div id="demomain">
		<h1 tabindex="0" id="demoHead">Here's a heading and some content! It's important to focus on me.</h1>
    	<p>Content, content, content...lorem ipsum, etc.</p>
		<button id="demoBtn">Push me</button>
	</div>
</div>

CSS Code

*:focus {
    border: 2px solid blue;
}

* {
 box-sizing: border-box;
}

body {
  margin: 0;
  height: 500px;
}

a {
  color: #333;
  text-decoration: none;
  padding: 0.5rem;
}

button {
  font-size: 1.25rem;
  border-radius: 0.33em;
  font-family: inherit;
  background: #111;
  color: #fefefe;
  padding: 0.75rem;
  border: 0;
  text-align: center;
  margin-top: 20vh;
  margin-left: 25%;
  width: 50%;
}

ul {
	list-style: none;
	margin-top: 0px;
	padding-left: 0px;
	background-color: lightgreen;
}

ul > li {
  font-size: 1.25rem;
  font-family: inherit;
  color: #000;
  padding: 0.75rem;
  display: inline-block;
  width: 24%;
  text-align: center;
  margin: 0px;
}

ul > li a {
	width: 100%;
}

ul > li:hover {
	background-color: aliceblue;
}

ul > li a:focus {
	background-color: aliceblue;
}

.hidden {
  padding: 0.75rem;
  padding-bottom: 1.25rem;
  position: absolute;
  background: #000;
  color: #fff;
  left: 50%;
  height: 50px;
  transform: translateY(-100%);
  transition: transform 0.3s;
  opacity: 0;
}

.hidden:focus {
	transform: translateY(0%);
  opacity: 1;
  border: 2px solid aliceblue;
}

#content {
	height: 400px;
	background-color: #009FD4;
}

p {
	color: white;
	padding-left: 20px;
}

Why use a skip link?

Skip links serve as shortcuts that allow users to bypass repetitive content, such as navigation menus, and jump directly to the main content of a page. This is especially valuable for individuals with disabilities, such as those with motor or visual impairments, who may find navigating through lengthy menus time-consuming. It should be noted that skip links can and need to be used for repeated blocks of content that are not only navigation menus. Skip links contribute to a more efficient and user-friendly experience, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can quickly access and engage with the core content of a webpage without unnecessary barriers or delays. By prioritizing inclusivity through skip links, designers and developers contribute to a more equitable and accommodating digital environment.

What are some accessibility concerns?

Visibility and Consistency:
- Concern: Skip links should be clearly visible and consistently present across all pages of the website. Inconsistent placement or visibility can confuse users.
- Mitigation: Ensure skip links are styled to be easily noticeable, and maintain a consistent position or appearance throughout the website.
Focus Styling:
- Concern: Users navigating with a keyboard should be able to perceive when a skip link has received focus for better visibility and understanding.
- Mitigation: Apply clear focus styling to skip links so that users can easily identify which link is currently in focus.
Positional Awareness:
- Concern: Skip links that rely on absolute positioning may not be visible to users who have custom stylesheets or altered default browser settings.
- Mitigation: Implement skip links using a method that ensures their visibility, such as using a visually hidden technique that remains accessible to screen readers.
Testing Across Browsers and Devices:
- Concern: Skip links may behave inconsistently across various browsers and devices.
- Mitigation: Test skip links on different browsers and devices to ensure consistent behavior and functionality. Address any issues specific to certain environments.
Mobile Responsiveness:
- Concern: On smaller screens, skip links may occupy valuable space or conflict with the mobile interface.
- Mitigation: Implement responsive design for skip links, considering their visibility and positioning on mobile devices. Adjust the design to accommodate smaller screens without compromising usability.

Additional Ability Services:

Chat with usLiveChat