Make it clear when a website link opens a new page

What to change

Ask your supplier to update the page identity and provide an understandable reading start after navigation, including changes that happen without a full reload.

A worked example

Illustrative example

Moving from Services to Contact updates the page identity and makes the Contact heading available as the new reading context.

Healthcare website design showing connected desktop and mobile service and enquiry layouts. — Make the service and next step clear on every screen.

Healthcare website accessibility illustrated by a focus outline, keyboard key, contrast samples and form. — Review keyboard access, contrast and understandable form fields.

Why this matters to your practice

When a visitor chooses Contact, the new page should clearly become the contact page. Some websites change the central content without the familiar full-page reload, so this transition needs deliberate attention. Ask your supplier to demonstrate the page title, main heading and spoken arrival message. Also use Back and Forward, because people often compare pages. A changed web address is useful, but it should not be the only clue that navigation finished and a different page is ready.

How to check the result

Accept when each completed navigation leaves the browser and assistive experience aligned with the content actually displayed.

A mistake to avoid

A changing address bar alone may not provide a useful announcement or move the visitor away from a now-obsolete control.

Turn reading into a next step

Your action checklist

Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.

Checks to discussFollow a service link from the homepage and observe the browser title, main heading and focus destination. Compare with opening that destination directly.Ask the supplier to demonstrate the transition with a screen reader (software that reads the page aloud). The visitor should be able to recognise the newly displayed page without exploring the entire screen.Use Back and Forward through several destinations. Check that restored pages have matching titles and useful reading positions rather than stale names.

Your answers and notes

Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.

What happens next, and who will do it?

Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.

Related guides

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