Skip Link
A hidden link that lets keyboard users jump straight to the main content, bypassing repetitive navigation.
The Bad (Inaccessible)
<header>
<nav>
<a href="/">Home</a>
<a href="/about">About</a>
</nav>
</header>
Accessibility-Ready Code
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">
Skip to main content
</a>
a.skip-link(href="#main-content") Skip to main content
<a href="#main-content" className="skip-link">
Skip to main content
</a>
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">
Skip to main content
</a>
<a
href="#main-content"
class="absolute left-4 -top-full focus:top-4 bg-indigo-600 text-white px-6 py-3 rounded-md z-50 transition-all font-semibold"
>
Skip to main content
</a>
The Standard
A Skip Link is an invisible link that becomes visible on keyboard focus. It allows users to skip directly to the <main> content, bypassing the header, navigation, and other repeated elements.
WCAG Criteria
- 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A): A mechanism must exist to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple pages.
❌ The Bad (Inaccessible)
<!-- 🚫 Without a skip link, users must tab through dozens of links to reach content -->
<header>
<nav>
<a href="/">Home</a>
<a href="/about">About</a>
<!-- ...20 more links... -->
</nav>
</header>
<main>
<!-- The actual content -->
</main>// React
// 🚫 Without a skip link, users must tab through dozens of links to reach content
function App() {
return (
<>
<header>
<nav>
<a href="/">Home</a>
<a href="/about">About</a>
{/* ...20 more links... */}
</nav>
</header>
<main>
{/* The actual content */}
</main>
</>
);
}<!-- Vue -->
<!-- 🚫 Without a skip link, users must tab through dozens of links to reach content -->
<template>
<header>
<nav>
<a href="/">Home</a>
<a href="/about">About</a>
<!-- ...20 more links... -->
</nav>
</header>
<main>
<!-- The actual content -->
</main>
</template>What’s Wrong?
- Tedious Navigation: Keyboard users must press
Tab20+ times to reach the main content. - Excludes Screen Reader Users: They must listen to every link before reaching what they came for.
✅ The Good (Accessibility-Ready Code)
Why This Works
- Instant Bypass: Pressing
Tabonce reveals the skip link. PressingEnterjumps to<main>. tabindex="-1"on Main: Allows focus to be moved to the<main>element programmatically.- Visually Hidden Until Focused: Styled to appear only on
:focus.
Accessibility Checklist
- Place the skip link as the first focusable element in the
<body>. - The target element (e.g.,
<main>) must have a matchingid. - Add
tabindex="-1"to the target if it’s not natively focusable. - Style with
.sr-only:focusto make it visible only on focus.
<body>
<a href="#main" class="skip-link">Skip to content</a>
...
<main id="main" tabindex="-1">
<h1>Content Starts Here</h1>
</main>
</body>CSS for Skip Link
.skip-link {
position: absolute;
top: -100%;
left: 16px;
background: #0f172a;
color: white;
padding: 12px 24px;
z-index: 1000;
border-radius: 8px;
transition: top 0.2s;
}
.skip-link:focus {
top: 16px;
}Interactive Behavioral Lab
Interactive Sandbox
🔬 Technical Internals
Understand how this component is processed by the browser and Assistive Technology (AT). This section bridges the gap between visual code and the hidden logic that powers accessibility.
🌲 Accessibility Tree
The data structure used by screen readers to "see" your page. It translates HTML roles and attributes into standardized objects.
⚙️ Event Logic
Expected behavioral standards for keyboard navigation and state transitions. Crucial for users who don't use a mouse.
- Focus: Highlights via
:focus-visible - Activation: Responds to
EnterandSpace - Role: Identified as
Skip Link