Do your link labels explain the destination?
It finds vague link text and a larger set of links with no text.
What Check Engine measures
The check reads link labels on pages intended for search. It skips page fragments, script links, email links and phone links. A plain Download label is allowed when it points to a recognised file or download route. Other labels are checked against a list of vague wording. Empty labels produce a finding only when there are more than 3 empty labels. A vague label can be reported whenever one is found. For example, exactly 3 empty labels stay within the empty-label count limit.
The check reads link destinations and their labels. It does not click them or assess the whole surrounding paragraph. Review each label in the interface where it appears.
How to read the result
Both vague and empty-label findings are low severity. A recognised download destination has a different purpose from an ordinary content link, which is why its short label is not automatically treated as vague.
Why it matters
Link labels help a reader decide whether a destination is useful before opening it. Counting labels without context cannot judge every design, but it can point to links that deserve a direct inspection.
How to fix it
Replace unclear labels with words describing the destination or action. Give icon-only controls an appropriate accessible name in the interface that owns them. Keep a concise Download label where the destination is genuinely a file. Review repeated card and menu templates if the same empty label appears across the site.
How to fix vague and empty link text
What we found in field audits
Problems in On-page SEO were found on 14 of the 14 sites we audited. These are area totals. Read the field-audit method.
Method note
backend/seo_engine/checks/onpage.py, anchors, revision 0bb8e8d3.
Common questions
How many empty link labels trigger a finding?
More than 3 empty labels are needed. Exactly that count stays within the empty-label limit.
Is a Download link label always considered vague?
No. A download route or recognised file can justify a plain Download label. Its destination changes the interpretation.
Are email and phone links tested for vague labels here?
No. Email links and phone links are skipped along with fragments and script links. Other contact tests handle different concerns.