Writing Labels for Alternative-Language Links
Writing Labels for Alternative-Language Links narrows the preliminary language-switcher topic to the directly documented wording pattern in WCAG’s Language of Parts guidance.
Label links to alternative-language versions with clear language names; W3C’s WCAG example presents each language name in that language rather than using an unexplained code alone.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This page covers the wording of alternative-language links; programmatic language declaration and selector implementation are separate technical requirements.
Further guidance
Content
Use recognizable language names for links to alternative-language versions; W3C’s example writes each language name in that language.
Purpose
Clear language-link labels let users identify the destination language without relying on an ambiguous icon or code alone.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Understanding SC 3.1.2: Language of Parts — WCAG 2.2 (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · WCAG 2.2 example guidance for alternative-language links and their language names.