Skip Links: Creating Express Lanes Through Your Website

5 min read

What are Skip Links?

Imagine having to walk through the same lobby, elevator, and hallway every time you want to reach your office, even when you know exactly where you're going. Skip links are like having a direct entrance that lets you bypass all the repetitive areas and go straight to your destination.

Skip links are navigation aids that allow keyboard and screen reader users to jump over repetitive content like navigation menus, headers, and sidebars to reach the main content directly. They're typically hidden from visual users but become visible when focused with the Tab key.

Skip Link Implementation:

  • Well Implemented: Skip links are present, functional, and provide efficient navigation to main content areas
  • Partially Implemented: Some skip links present but may be incomplete or poorly positioned
  • Missing: No skip links available, forcing users to navigate through all repetitive content

Why Skip Links Are Essential

Skip links serve critical functions that dramatically improve navigation efficiency:

  • Time Savings: Users can bypass dozens of navigation items to reach content immediately
  • Reduced Frustration: Eliminates the tedium of tabbing through repeated elements on every page
  • Improved Usability: Makes websites practical for daily use by keyboard and screen reader users
  • Better Task Completion: Users can focus on content rather than navigation
  • WCAG Compliance: Required by accessibility standards for sites with repeated content blocks
  • Universal Benefit: Helpful for anyone using keyboard navigation

The Navigation Tax

Without skip links, keyboard users pay a "navigation tax" on every page visit—the time cost of tabbing through repeated navigation elements. On complex sites, this can mean 20-50 tab presses just to reach the main content.

How to Implement Skip Links

Basic Skip to Main Content

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <title>Page Title</title>
  <style>
    .skip-link {
      position: absolute;
      top: -40px;
      left: 6px;
      background: #000;
      color: #fff;
      padding: 8px;
      text-decoration: none;
      border-radius: 0 0 4px 4px;
      z-index: 1000;
    }
    .skip-link:focus {
      top: 0;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
  
  <header>
    <nav>
      <a href="/">Home</a>
      <a href="/about">About</a>
      <a href="/services">Services</a>
      <a href="/contact">Contact</a>
    </nav>
  </header>
  
  <main id="main-content">
    <h1>Page Heading</h1>
    <p>Main content starts here...</p>
  </main>
</body>
</html>

Multiple Skip Links

<body>
  <div class="skip-links">
    <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
    <a href="#navigation" class="skip-link">Skip to navigation</a>
    <a href="#footer" class="skip-link">Skip to footer</a>
  </div>
  
  <header>
    <h1>Site Title</h1>
    <nav id="navigation">
      <!-- Navigation items -->
    </nav>
  </header>
  
  <aside class="sidebar">
    <!-- Sidebar content -->
  </aside>
  
  <main id="main-content">
    <h1>Page Title</h1>
    <!-- Main content -->
  </main>
  
  <footer id="footer">
    <!-- Footer content -->
  </footer>
</body>

Skip Links for Complex Layouts

<!-- For pages with multiple content sections -->
<div class="skip-links">
  <a href="#primary-nav" class="skip-link">Skip to primary navigation</a>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
  <a href="#search" class="skip-link">Skip to search</a>
  <a href="#secondary-nav" class="skip-link">Skip to secondary navigation</a>
</div>

<header>
  <nav id="primary-nav" aria-label="Main navigation">
    <!-- Primary navigation -->
  </nav>
</header>

<div class="search-bar">
  <label for="site-search" id="search">Search this site</label>
  <input type="search" id="site-search">
</div>

<main id="main-content">
  <!-- Main content -->
</main>

<aside>
  <nav id="secondary-nav" aria-label="Related links">
    <!-- Secondary navigation -->
  </nav>
</aside>

Skip Link Best Practices

Positioning and Styling

/* Recommended skip link styling */
.skip-link {
  position: absolute;
  top: -40px;
  left: 6px;
  background: #000;
  color: #fff;
  padding: 8px 12px;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-radius: 0 0 4px 4px;
  font-size: 14px;
  font-weight: bold;
  z-index: 1000;
  transition: top 0.3s;
}

.skip-link:focus {
  top: 0;
  outline: 2px solid #fff;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

.skip-link:hover {
  background: #333;
}

/* Ensure skip links work with different layouts */
.skip-links {
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1001;
}

.skip-links .skip-link:not(:first-child) {
  left: 140px; /* Offset multiple skip links */
}

Clear Link Text

<!-- Good: Clear, specific link text -->
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
<a href="#search-form" class="skip-link">Skip to search</a>
<a href="#site-navigation" class="skip-link">Skip to site navigation</a>

<!-- Avoid: Vague or confusing text -->
<a href="#content" class="skip-link">Skip</a>
<a href="#main" class="skip-link">Click here to skip</a>

Proper Target Elements

<!-- Ensure target elements are focusable -->
<main id="main-content" tabindex="-1">
  <h1>Page Title</h1>
  <!-- Content -->
</main>

<!-- Or focus the first heading -->
<main id="main-content">
  <h1 id="page-title" tabindex="-1">Page Title</h1>
  <!-- Content -->
</main>

<script>
// Ensure skip links work properly
document.querySelectorAll('.skip-link').forEach(link => {
  link.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
    const target = document.querySelector(this.getAttribute('href'));
    if (target) {
      target.focus();
    }
  });
});
</script>

Common Skip Link Mistakes

Problem: Skip Links Not Visible When Focused

Simple solution: Ensure skip links become visible when they receive keyboard focus:

/* Bad: Always hidden */
.skip-link {
  display: none;
}

/* Good: Hidden until focused */
.skip-link {
  position: absolute;
  top: -40px;
  left: 6px;
}
.skip-link:focus {
  top: 0;
}

Problem: Broken Skip Link Targets

Simple solution: Ensure skip link targets exist and are properly identified:

<!-- Bad: Target doesn't exist -->
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
<div class="content">Content here</div>

<!-- Good: Target exists and is properly marked -->
<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
<main id="main-content">Content here</main>

Problem: Skip Links Not First in Tab Order

Simple solution: Place skip links as the first focusable elements in the HTML:

<!-- Good: Skip links come first -->
<body>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
  
  <header>
    <!-- Header content -->
  </header>
  
  <main id="main-content">
    <!-- Main content -->
  </main>
</body>

Testing Your Skip Links

Regular testing ensures skip links work effectively:

  • Keyboard Testing: Press Tab as the first action on each page to verify skip links appear and function correctly
  • Screen Reader Testing: Use screen readers to confirm skip links are announced and lead to correct destinations
  • Focus Testing: Verify that activating skip links moves focus to the intended content area
  • Visual Testing: Ensure skip links are visible and readable when focused
  • Cross-Browser Testing: Test skip links across different browsers and devices

The Business Impact of Skip Links

Implementing skip links delivers measurable business benefits:

  • Improved User Retention: Users are more likely to engage with sites that respect their time and navigation preferences
  • Better Task Completion: Efficient navigation leads to higher success rates for user goals
  • Enhanced Accessibility Compliance: Skip links are required by WCAG and help meet legal accessibility requirements
  • Competitive Advantage: Most websites lack skip links, making yours stand out for accessibility
  • Reduced Support Burden: Users can navigate independently rather than needing assistance
  • Professional Reputation: Demonstrates attention to user experience details and inclusive design principles

Skip Links for Different Website Types

Different types of websites benefit from specific skip link approaches:

  • E-commerce sites should include skip links to product search, shopping cart, and main product areas
  • News websites should provide skip links to main articles, breaking news, and different content sections
  • Web applications should implement skip links to primary functionality, dashboards, and main work areas
  • Educational platforms should include skip links to course content, assignments, and navigation tools
  • Government websites should provide skip links to services, forms, and essential information
  • Corporate websites should include skip links to main content, contact information, and key services

Conclusion: Small Effort, Big Impact

Skip links represent one of the most cost-effective accessibility improvements you can make. They require minimal development effort but provide enormous benefits to users who rely on keyboard navigation or screen readers.

What makes skip links particularly valuable is their role in transforming websites from obstacles into efficient tools. When users can bypass repetitive content and reach their goals quickly, your website becomes more valuable and usable for everyone.

The implementation of skip links also demonstrates a commitment to inclusive design that extends beyond compliance requirements. It shows that you understand and respect the diverse ways people interact with your content.

As websites become more complex and navigation-heavy, skip links become increasingly important for maintaining usability. They're a simple solution to a universal problem: helping users get where they want to go as efficiently as possible.

Ready to add express lanes to your website?

Greadme's easy-to-use tools can help you identify where skip links are needed and provide simple instructions to implement them effectively—even if you're not technically minded.

Improve Your Website's Navigation Today