A skip link must be a single, real link

Rule bypass-block-quality · Document, language & navigation · impact moderate · Static + live

↩ Back to the rules index · WCAG cross-reference

Why it matters#

A skip link only helps if it is the first thing a keyboard user meets and it does exactly one thing. Duplicated skip links make the user press Tab through the same choice twice, and a skip control built from a <div> or a <button> is not announced as a link and does not move screen-reader focus the way a same-page link does.

How to fix#

Ship one skip link per target as an <a href="#main">, first in the tab order, pointing at a real element on the page.

Example#

<div onclick="go()">Skip to content</div>

<a href="#main">Skip to content</a>

Example#

<a href="#main">Skip to content</a><a href="#main">Skip to content</a>

<a href="#main">Skip to content</a>

WCAG success criteria#

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks — Level A#

Provide a way (skip link, landmarks, headings) to bypass repeated blocks like navigation.

Understanding 2.4.1

Standards#

This rule contributes to the following standards:

WCAG A EN 301 549

References#

• WCAG — Bypass Blocks