Links

Adding links to content, making them accessible and our external linking policy.

On this page


Do not duplicate information. If it exists elsewhere or can be better supplied by an external organisation, link to it instead.

Make sure all links are provided in context, at the point in the content at which they’re useful. Do not put all the links together at the bottom of the page.

Do not use unsorted lists of related links to point users to content you think they might be interested in. These are sometimes known as “further reading” or “more information”. 

When writing a link, make it descriptive and front-load it with relevant terms instead of using something generic like ‘click here’ or ‘more’. Generic links do not make sense out of context or tell users where a link will take them. They also do not work for people using screen readers, who often scan through a list of links to navigate a page.

It’s important the links are descriptive and meaningful so they make sense in isolation.

  • If your link leads to information rather than starting a task, use the text about that information as the link. For example, ‘accessibility testing’. Consider using the title of the page the link goes to as your link text.
  • If your link takes the user to a page where they can start a task, start your link with a verb. For example, ‘apply for a school place’.
  • When you write link text, consider the other links on the same page. Do not use the same link text to link to different places.
  • Avoid linking to the same place more than once if you can.
  • If you have more than one link on a page to the same place, use similar link text - these do not need to be identical but should convey the same meaning.

Links help people scan content, so do not swamp them with too many or link to the same tool or webpage throughout your page. Link to online services first, unless an offline alternative is better for your users.

For examples and tips on writing consistent, accessible link text on our websites, read our guidance on writing hyperlinks in web content

Very short links can create problems for users with limited dexterity. One-word links, for example, should have at least 3 syllables. Including more words in your link text also makes it more descriptive and user friendly.

If you are copying and pasting a link directly from an external source, for example an email, make sure to check the URL. 

Be sure to link to the specific page containing the content rather than the site's general homepage.

When you copy and paste from an external source, like a web browser, check the link text is descriptive and meaningful enough for online audiences.

Read about Pasting URLs from Microsoft Edge browser.

Anchor links (sometimes referred to as 'jump' links or in-page navigation) take a user to a particular section of a page.

They can take users to either:

  • another section on the same page
  • a section on a different page

Avoid using anchor links to skip within content on a page. Anchor links can be disorientating for some users with access needs who may have problems getting back to the previous section they were on. 

It is okay to use anchor links to create a single in-page table of contents at the top of the page (like on this page), 

Link to the publication page (the page the attachment is added to), not to the attachment itself.

This is because:

  • users might miss important information or context by bypassing the publication page (even if the attachment is a HTML)
  • links to file attachments, such as PDF or ODS, can break when pages are updated
  • users cannot navigate back to the publication page from file attachments

For example:

To link to the ‘ Council spending information May 2025 [CSV] ’ document, you should use the URL for the Council spending information page.

If the page you are linking to has more than one attachment, be clear which one you are directing the user to.

Linking to documents on other sites

Link to the page that hosts the document and give the full title of the document on that page. Do not link to the document itself because:

  • links to documents are more likely to break
  • it’s harder for users to navigate back from documents to the page they were on

If you cannot avoid linking to the actual document, add the file format and size to the link.

For example: Application form (Website name) [PDF, 19.5KB]

Linking to a page in a different language

If you are linking to a page in a different language, you must signpost the change in the link text and language of the origin page.

For example, ‘trwydded car, ee o awtomatig i drawsyriant gyda llaw (yn Saesneg)’ where ‘yn Saesneg’ means ‘in English’.

If linking to a non-English page from an English page, you must signpost this as well.

For example, ‘You can find information and guidance regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19 in France on the French Government’s COVID-19 pages (in French)’.

Users will expect a linked page to be in the same language as the origin page. It’s good practice to prepare users for a language change in their journey. It’s also important for accessibility so that screen readers can correctly pronounce content on the origin and destination page.

External linking policy 

You can link to an external website in one of these situations:

  • you’re linking to a government service or website
  • a user can only complete a task using a third party website, for example finding a driving instructor
  • there is evidence a user needs something that cannot be published on nottinghamshire.gov.uk, for example information or advice government cannot or does not provide
  • a trustworthy source can support users better than we can, for example it has a tool or feature that we do not. 

Rules for linking to external websites

Users must be able to access the content without having to pay or register to see it.

You can link to commercial websites, but we must be impartial. You must have reason for linking to one commercial website instead of another if they provide similar information. Linking to one commercial website instead of another can look like endorsement, or give one company an advantage over the other.

Check if the site is usable and accessible (especially on mobile) and if it’s a safe place to send a user. Read the site’s privacy and cookie policies.

Plan how you’re going to maintain the link. The content on the website can stop being useful. Links break and the design, content and privacy can change without warning.

Link to the specific page, not the website’s general homepage.

You can put a link:

  • in the body of the text (inline)
  • as a related link in the right hand navigation

You must make it clear users are leaving nottinghamshire.gov.uk if you’re using inline links.

For example: 

  • Check your State Pension forecast (GOV.UK)
  • Search for courses and training on Careers England