Links
Buttons
A button is a user-friendly call-to-action that enables easy click or tap behavior. Additional characters assigned after button text are not necessary. When using a button, make the label short, descriptive and transparent. Avoid ambiguity for ADA compliance.
Buttons are created using the button shortcode editor available in most text editors or the block editor.
Examples
Primary Buttons
Quad-Cities Campus East Campus
Secondary Buttons (Inverse Style)
A secondary button style is appropriate when there is a primary button with higher importance on the page already or background styles dictate a different color.
Stand-alone Links
If a link is displayed in content, within its own paragraph where the entire paragraph is the link, punctuation can be used inside the link. However, instead of creating a traditional hyperlink, consider using an alternate button that displays text in bold with an arrow.
Preferred (Alternate Style Button)
Visit Black Hawk College for more information.
Acceptable when buttons are not available
Visit Black Hawk College for more information.
NOT Acceptable
Formatting Within Paragraphs
Links within paragraphs should be managed through the site css. Do not include additional characters after the linked text. Do not include ending punctuation within the link.
Displayed URLs
Avoid using literal or redirect URLs on a page. This is for ADA compliance and also has a cleaner appearance for users. Instead, create a button or hyperlink that creates a functional link and displays descriptive text.
Redirects
Don’t use redirects in link URLs or displayed on the page for pages on bhc.edu. Using a masked literal URL will load quicker and update easier if the page path changes. A redirect may be generated to fix pages that change path, but if you use a redirect in a link, the user may be directed through more than one redirect which could perform slowly for users. If the redirect changes or is eliminated, the link will no longer work.
Redirects may be acceptable from third-party websites, but only when a literal URL is not available since the full URL can be masked behind text.
Acceptable Links
- Visit the Testing Center.
- For more information, go to St. Ambrose University.
Visit Black Hawk College for more information.
Unacceptable Links
- Visit the Testing Center at https://www.bhc.edu/current-students/testing-center/.
- For more information, go to https://sau.edu/
- Apply for scholarships at bhc.edu/scholarships.
Document Links
This site hosts various pdf documents in a library that manages updates in multiple areas. Links to documents can be displayed for different purposes.
Examples
[Download not found]
[Download not found]
The [Download not found] tracks incidents on Black Hawk College campuses.
DLM Arrow-btn permitted, but doesn’t display correctly inside expand-collapse.
Importance of using download library
Please ensure all documents are placed using one of these methods to ensure proper file management and compliance.
Opening a Link in a New Tab
Opening a link in a new tab should be restricted to only external URLs not on the bhc.edu domain. Support for communicating new tab behavior is built into buttons and block treatment of links.
When an external link is placed in paragraphs or without button support, include a title with reference to “(new tab)” for the link that displays for screen readers and when users hover over link.
More to Explore
Headings
Website Styling Guide
