You know exactly what you need – milk from the dairy section – but to get there, you have to navigate past the bakery, the produce section, and every other aisle first. Frustrating, right?
Now, picture the same store, but this time there’s a fast-track lane that lets you bypass all those sections and head straight to the dairy aisle. Convenient, efficient, and no unnecessary detours.
Skip links work just like that fast-track lane. They allow people to skip repetitive content like navigation menus and go directly to the main part of the page. Positioned at the top of the page and visible when focused, they save time and effort, especially for people navigating with a keyboard or a screen reader.
How to implement skip links
1. Add the skip link to HTML
Place the skip link as one of the first elements after the <body> tag:
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>2. Anchor to the main content area
Set an id on the main content area to anchor the skip link:
<main id="main-content">
<!-- Main content here -->
</main>Ensure the href attribute of the skip link (href="#main-content") matches the id on the main content area (id="main-content").
3. Style the skip link for visibility
Use CSS to hide the skip link by default and make it visible when focused:
.skip-link {
position: absolute;
left: -9999px;
}
.skip-link:focus {
position: static;
left: auto;
}4. Test the skip link
Testing ensures your skip links work as intended:
- Manual testing – Use the Tab key to check if the skip link appears and skips correctly to the main content.
- Screen reader testing – Verify how the link is announced and whether it functions properly.
- Cross-browser testing – Confirm skip links work across various browsers and devices.
Best practices for effective skip links
- Use clear text – Label the link descriptively, like “Skip to main content,” so people know its function.
- Consider multiple skip links – On complex pages, add links to different sections (e.g., “Skip to navigation”, “Skip to main content”).
- Consistency across pages – Ensure skip links are present on all pages, not just the homepage.
- Show focus styles – Make sure the skip link is visually highlighted when focused, so people can see and use it easily.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Incorrect targeting – Ensure the
hrefandidattributes match correctly for the skip link to function. - Skipping testing – Test skip links across devices and assistive tech to confirm usability.
- Fully hidden links – Don’t make skip links completely invisible; they should be visible on focus to be usable.