Technique H60:Using the link element to link to a glossary

Applicability

HTML and XHTML

This technique relates to:

3.1.3: Unusual Words (Sufficient when used with G55: Linking to definitions)
3.1.4: Abbreviations (Sufficient when used with G102: Providing the expansion or explanation of an abbreviation)

Description

The objective of this technique is to provide a mechanism for locating a glossary. When terms in the content are defined on a separate glossary page, the glossary is referenced using a link element in the head element of the document that uses the glossary. The rel attribute of the link element is set to "glossary", and the href attribute contains the URI of the glossary page. User agents can then assist users in accessing the glossary quickly and easily.

Examples

Example 1: The WCAG 2.0 Glossary.

 <link rel="glossary" href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/#glossary">

Other sources

No endorsement implied.

HTML 4.01 LINK element
HTML 4.01 link types
Use <link>s in your document from W3C's Quality Web Tips
LINK - Document Relationship from Web Design Group

Tests

Procedure

For any set of words and their definitions that are meant to serve as a glossary:

Check that the head section of the Web page that contains words, phrases or abbreviations defined in a glossary contains a link element
Check that the link element has attribute rel="glossary"
Check that the href attribute of the link element refers to the glossary page.

Expected Results

All checks above are true.

Note: The definition of abbreviation used in WCAG is : "shortened form of a word, phrase, or name where the original expansion has not been rejected by the organization that it refers to and where the abbreviation has not become part of the language."