Resolving Empty Links

What is an empty link?

An empty link is a hyperlink that does not contain any accessible text or description. While the link may appear to work visually, users of assistive technologies may not know where the link goes or what it does.

DubBot reports empty links because screen readers rely on accessible names to announce links to users.

Common causes

Empty links are often caused by:

• Links containing only an image without alternative text.
• Empty buttons or icon links.
• Links that have had their text accidentally removed.
• HTML or formatting errors.

Fixing an empty link in Cascade CMS

1. Open the affected page using Open In > Editor from DubBot.
2. Locate the reported link.
3. Ensure the link contains visible, descriptive text or an image with appropriate alternative text.
4. Remove empty or unnecessary links.
5. Save your changes and publish the page.

Note: In some instances code view may be required to remove empty links. Submit a ticket to ask for additional help from the Web Services team.

Fixing an empty link in WordPress

1. Edit the affected page.
2. Locate the reported link.
3. Add descriptive link text or ensure any linked image includes appropriate alternative text.
4. Remove the link if it is no longer needed.
5. Update the page.

Writing meaningful link text

Visitors should understand where a link will take them without needing additional context.

Good Examples

• Apply to UMKC
• View Academic Calendar
• Download the 2026 Student Handbook (PDF)
• Contact Financial Aid

Avoid

• Click here
• Read more
• Learn more
• More
• Empty icons without labels

When multiple links appear on the same page, each should clearly communicate its purpose.

Verify the correction

After publishing:

1. Open the published page.
2. Confirm the link is visible and functional.
3. Ensure the link clearly communicates its purpose.
4. Wait for DubBot’s next scheduled crawl to verify the issue has been resolved.

When to contact Web Services

If the empty link is part of your website’s navigation, header, footer, or another shared component that cannot be edited through your CMS, submit a Web Services support ticket. Template-level accessibility issues are maintained by Web Services.