Techniques for WCAG 2.0

On this page:

-

# G71: Providing a help link on every Web page

## Applicability

All technologies.

This technique relates to:

- Success Criterion 3.3.5 (Help)
  - How to Meet 3.3.5 (Help)
  - Understanding Success Criterion 3.3.5 (Help)

## Description

The objective of this technique is to provide context sensitive help for users as they enter data in forms by providing at least one link to the help information on each Web page. The link targets a help page with information specific to that Web page. Another approach is to provide a help link for every interactive control. Positioning this link immediately before or after the control allows users to easily tab to it if they have problems in the control. Displaying the help information in a new browser window ensures that any data that has already been entered into the form will not be lost. NOTE: A link is not the only means to provide help.

## Examples

### Example 1

The example below shows a label element that includes a help link. Including the help link within the label element allows screen reader users to have access to the help link when interacting with the input form control.

Example Code:

    <form action="test.html">
    	<label for="test">Test control
    	<a href="help.html" target="_blank">Help</a></label>
    	<input type="text" name="test" id="test" />
    </form>

## Related Techniques

- G184: Providing text instructions at the beginning of a form or set of fields that describes the necessary input
- G193: Providing help by an assistant in the Web page

## Tests

### Procedure

1. Identify a Web page that contains forms.

2. Determine if there is at least one link to help information specific to completing the form on this Web page or other resource.

3. Determine if there are links either before or after each interactive control to help information specific to that control.

### Expected Results

- Either #2 or #3 are true.

- Top
- Contents
- Intro
- Previous: Technique G70
- Next: Technique G73