Design Principle
Links are navigation promises; users must quickly recognize clickable text in reading flows.
Principle Links are navigation promises; users must quickly recognize clickable text in reading flows.
Design action Body links use sufficient contrast plus underline or clear hover/focus; risky or primary actions should not be text-only links.
Examples Positive example: Docs, knowledge bases, settings copy, and form help text mix buttons and text links. Counterexample: Link color is too close to body text without underline.
Apply when Docs, knowledge bases, settings copy, and form help text mix buttons and text links. Users need to judge state, scope, risk, or next action quickly.
Source notes Source note: Synthesized from W3C WCAG 2.2, Apple Accessibility, IBM Carbon Accessibility, and accessibility practices in major design systems.
Agent Directive
Body links use sufficient contrast plus underline or clear hover/focus; risky or primary actions should not be text-only links.