Links and buttons

For best accessibility practices, follow these simple rules:

• A link (navigation) should look like a link and be coded like a link.
• A button (action) should look like a button and be coded like a button.

However, there are of course, exceptions to the rule:

• If you are using a <a>-tag for an action (as in submit form, even if it takes you to a new URL), change it to a <button>
• If you are using a <button> to change URL (location), change it to a <a>.
  • However, if it is the action that is changing the URL, keep the <button>
  • If the URL is not reachable by direct linking/deep linking, keep the <button>

Read more

• Links vs. Buttons in Modern Web Applications Something that comes up again and again in front-end accessibility is the issue of links versus buttons. You know, the HTML elements that open links in new windows or submit forms? In JavaScript web applications, it seems we're still confused about which element to choose for user interaction Links vs. Buttons in Modern Web Applications