Do links that open a non-web file format indicate that?

Goal

Ensure that users are notified when a link is going to open in a different application or in a way the web browser may not read properly.

Why this matters

It’s helpful for users to know what a link is going to open. The assumption is that a link will open another webpage (or similar) but if it opens something else, the user can lose context. This is especially true for users of assistive technology (AT).

How to implement

Writer:

Review Links .

Developer

Ensure you are implementing link text as provided by your Writer.

How to test

For each text link that opens a non-web file:

  • Does the link indicate what kind of file will be opened?