Skip links are links in HTML that allow users to quickly navigate to specific sections of a webpage, such as the main content or the footer.
Skip links are typically used to improve the accessibility of a website for users who have difficulty using a mouse or who use screen readers to navigate the internet. They are usually placed at the top of the page, before the main content, and are hidden from view until activated by keyboard shortcuts, such as the tab key.
When a user activates a skip link, the screen reader will announce the link's text, allowing the user to understand where the link will take them. The user can then press enter to activate the link and be taken directly to the corresponding section of the webpage. This can save a lot of time for users who need to navigate through multiple sections of a webpage, such as users with motor impairments or those using screen readers.
Skip links are implemented using HTML anchor tags and are typically given unique IDs that correspond to the sections they link to. For example, a skip link to the main content of a webpage might have an ID of "main-content" and a corresponding link in the HTML might look like this: <a href="#main-content">Skip to Main Content</a>.
It is important to note that while skip links are beneficial for accessibility, they should not be used as a replacement for proper semantic HTML and web accessibility practices. They should be used in addition to other accessibility features to provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience for all users.