Interactivity Battle: Clickable Div, Button, or href?

I'm currently exploring the optimal methods for generating buttons using HTML and CSS. In the past, I used clickable divs, but it seems that may not have been the most effective approach.

Should I consider using buttons or anchor tags instead?

What is the recommended practice to follow today in terms of HTML5 and CSS3?

Answer №1

Choosing between an <a> tag or a button depends on the desired behavior. If you need to simply link to another page, use an <a> tag. However, if the action involves submitting a form or performing a post/get request, it is better to use a button.

An interesting example of this is seen in Basecamp, a web-based project management tool. When they initially used <a> tags as delete buttons for tasks, some users experienced all their tasks being marked as deleted due to Google Page Optimizer triggering premature actions by clicking on links within the page.

Remember, let the function dictate the form for smoother user experience! :0)

Answer №2

One advantage of using buttons is their natural compatibility with accessibility, unlike links, spans, and other tags which may fall short in this area. Implementing ARIA roles is necessary to ensure proper accessibility with these elements, as discussed in this article.

Although incorporating ARIA roles isn't considered a workaround, it does require additional knowledge and attention to detail to ensure correct implementation.

Answer №3

One effective method for creating buttons in HTML is to utilize the <button> tag or <input type="submit">, as these elements are automatically recognized by browsers for form submissions.

For instance:

<form action="somepage.php" method="POST>
   <input type="text" name="name1">
   <textarea></textarea>
   <input type="submit" value="Submit the Form with an Input of Type Submit">
</form>

The form data will only be submitted when the user clicks on the submit button.

However, if you choose to use <a> or <div> elements as buttons, JavaScript intervention will be required.

In conclusion, it is recommended to stick with using buttons and input of type submit for button functionality, as any other customization may result in increased loading time for the page.

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