Links

Link targets

Accessibility guidelines advise that:

• Opening new tabs/windows should be minimised, unless there is a good reason (such as needing to view instructions for a form separately, or to display terms and conditions relating to a form).

• Vision impaired users and neuro-diverse users need to be warned that a link will open a new tab/window.

Our approach

• For all links, ensure that it is possible for users to control when a link opens in new tab/window by making sure the browser’s native “Open in new tab” and “Open in new window” options are always available.

• For links which open in an new window.

  • On hover and on select, or when a link is given focus, append a standard icon to the end of the link

    • import OpenInNewIcon from '@mui/icons-material/OpenInNew';

    • Hide the icon from screen readers

      • aria-hidden="true"

  • Ensure the words “opens in a new window” are voiced by screen readers

    • append the screen reader warning automatically at the end of the link following the icon.