Picture this: you're browsing a website, and you spot a button that says "Learn More." You click it, expecting a new page or at least some kind of response. Instead... nothing happens. No page change. No message. Just silence.
You shrug it off and move on. But have you ever wondered what actually causes this?
Let's understand what it really means.
What are empty links and buttons?
An empty link or button is exactly what it sounds like — a clickable element on a webpage that looks like it should do something, but doesn't actually lead anywhere or trigger any action when clicked. Sometimes the link points to nowhere at all (technically pointing to just "#" in the code). Sometimes the button has no text or label attached to it, so even if it does something, nobody — especially someone using assistive technology — can tell what it's for.
Think of it like a doorbell button on a house that isn't wired to anything. It looks exactly like a real doorbell, but pressing it does absolutely nothing.
Why should you care?
If you're a website owner, empty links and buttons quietly damage the experience for real visitors, hurt how search engines understand your site, and can make certain parts of your website completely unusable for people relying on screen readers. If you're just a visitor, understanding this helps you realize it's usually a genuine mistake on the website's part, not something wrong with your device or browser.
Where do you see it in daily life?
- Clicking a "Read More" or "Learn More" button that doesn't navigate anywhere
- A social media icon in a website's footer that isn't actually linked to any social page
- A screen reader announcing "button" or "link" with no further description, leaving a visually impaired visitor with no idea what it does
- A navigation menu item that looks clickable but simply doesn't respond
How does it work?
Websites are built using code that defines links (using an element called an anchor tag) and buttons. A properly working link points to an actual destination — another page, a file, or a specific section. A properly working button usually triggers an action, like submitting a form or opening a menu, and includes a text label describing what it does.
Empty links and buttons happen when this code is incomplete — for example, a developer adds a placeholder link while building the page and simply forgets to fill in the real destination before publishing, or an icon-only button is added without an accompanying label that describes its purpose for people who can't see the icon.
Common examples
- A "Submit" button that's missing its actual form-submission behavior, so clicking it does nothing
- A footer social media icon linking to "#" instead of the real profile page
- An icon-only button (like a magnifying glass for search) with no text label, making it invisible in meaning to a screen reader
- A "Read More" link left over from a template, never connected to the actual article
Benefits
Fixing empty links and buttons is one of the simplest, most immediately rewarding improvements a website can make. It genuinely helps every single visitor navigate more smoothly, helps screen reader users understand and use every part of the page, and helps search engines properly understand the site's structure and content.
Risks or limitations
Here's a nuance worth understanding: not every "clickable-looking" element without an obvious destination is automatically broken.
A well-known exception is buttons that trigger an action without navigating anywhere — for example, a button that opens a dropdown menu, expands a section, or shows a popup. These are working exactly as intended, even though they don't take you to a new page. The real issue is specifically when a link or button looks interactive but genuinely does nothing at all, or lacks a text label describing its function.
| Type | Working as intended? |
|---|---|
| Link with a real destination | Yes — normal behavior |
| Button that opens a menu, popup, or expands content | Yes — this is a legitimate use, even without navigation |
| Link pointing to "#" with no destination and no action | No — genuinely empty, should be fixed |
| Icon-only button with no text label for screen readers | No — inaccessible, should be fixed |
Common mistakes beginners make
- Assuming every button that doesn't open a new page is broken, when some are meant to trigger an action instead
- Leaving placeholder links in place after publishing a website, forgetting to connect them to real destinations
- Adding icon-only buttons without any hidden text label for accessibility tools
- Not testing the website using a screen reader or keyboard-only navigation before launch
Tips or best practices
- Always give buttons and icon-only elements a clear, hidden text label, even if it isn't visually shown, so screen readers can describe their purpose
- Double-check every link before publishing to make sure it points to a real, working destination
- Test important buttons and links using a screen reader or by navigating your site using only the keyboard
- Treat empty links and buttons as a quick-fix opportunity, since fixing them usually takes minutes but improves the experience for every visitor
If you're ever curious whether your own website has any empty links or buttons, the scanner at pekryon.com can help you check this as part of a wider website report.
