Insert a Link
Interactive Walkthrough
Instructions
Internal and External Links
There are two types of links in Cascade:
- Internal links, used when linking files and pages from within Cascade.
- External links, used when linking files and pages outside of Cascade.
Never use an external link to link other files or pages on the FHSU website.
To insert an internal link:
- In the editor, click "Insert/edit link"
- Click "Choose File, Page, or Link"
- Select the asset you want to link and click "Choose"
- Enter the display text for the link and click "Ok"
Insert an External Link
To insert an external link:
- In the editor, click "Insert/edit link"
- Check the "External" link type
- In "Link Source", enter the URL of the website you want to link to
- Enter the display text for the link and click "Ok"
Insert an Email Address
To insert an email address:
- In the editor, click "Insert/edit link"
- Check the "External" link type
- In "Link Source", type "mailto:" followed by an email address, and click "Ok"
There should be no spacing between the text in the link source, e.g. mailto:web@fhsu.edu.
Insert a Phone Number
To insert a phone number:
- In the editor, click "Insert/edit link"
- Check the "External" link type
- In "Link Source", type "tel:" followed by a phone number, and click "Ok"
All phone numbers should be prefixed with a country code (+1 for the US), and there should be no spaces or dashes in the link source, e.g. tel:+17856284206.
Insert an Anchor
Anchors allow you to link to a specific element on a webpage, most commonly a heading.
To insert an anchor:
- In the editor, select the text you want to reference and click "Anchor"
- Give the anchor a unique "ID" and click "Ok"
This gives the selected text an ID. To link to the anchor:
- In the editor, click "Insert/edit link"
- In "Anchor", enter the ID of the anchor you inserted previously
- Enter the display text for the link and click "Ok"
Best Practices
To comply with Section 508 Standards and associated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), it is important to create links that are clear, descriptive, and accessible to everyone, including those using assistive technologies.
When creating a link, follow these three key principles:
- Use Descriptive Link Text
- Write link text that clearly communicates the link’s purpose or destination
- Avoid using vague phrases like "click here" or "read more"
- Example: Use "Download the annual report" instead of "Click here"
- Provide Contextual Clarity
- Ensure that link text makes sense out of context
- Users of screen readers often navigate by jumping directly between links
- Example: "Learn more about our accessibility policy" is clearer than "Learn more"
- Avoid Using URLs as Link Text
- Long URLs can be confusing and difficult to read, especially for screen readers
- Instead, use a descriptive phrase that represents the link’s destination
Adding Titles to Links
You may want to provide additional context for a link with title.
To add a title to a link:
- In the editor, select the link you want to edit and click "Insert/edit link"
- In "Title", enter supporting information for the link and click "Ok"
Now, hovering over the link will display the supporting information in a tooltip.
Coming up Next
Use media to enhance pages with visual and interactive elements. Learn how to insert images, videos, and external media from platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, and more.
For more information, see How to Insert Media
