What is the best way to display link icons - as images or using CSS background-image URLs?

When designing a web UI, I am considering using iconography to represent actions such as adding, editing, deleting, and searching for items. However, I want to ensure that the purpose of each action is clear without displaying text and cluttering the UI space. One way to achieve this is:

  1. Add an img element inside the anchor tag. The img alt attribute describes the icon (alt="pencil icon"), while the title attribute explains the action (i.e. "Click here to edit this widget").

  2. Use css to display the image as a background within the anchor tag. The anchor's content should describe the action, wrapped in a span element with a display style set to none. Additionally, include a title attribute matching the content.

Option #2 may be easier to implement in an asp.net mvc app, as it separates design concerns from markup concerns. Defining the image in CSS simplifies code maintenance, allowing changes to the img src location by only adjusting the CSS file. Lastly, removing the CSS would revert to full text accessibility.

However, nesting the link content into a span for display: none; in the CSS feels somewhat cumbersome. Additionally, hover effects using the :hover selector might result in slower image swapping compared to JavaScript methods. Is there anything I may have overlooked?

cssasp.net-mvciconsbackground-imageimage

Answer №1

Our preferred method is to utilize option #2 in a unique way. Instead of encasing the anchor content within a span, we suggest styling the anchor using CSS properties such as display: block or inline-block, and adjusting its text-indent to a large negative value like -1000em. It may also be necessary to apply overflow: hidden.

To prevent any flickering or delays, we recommend creating a sprite with both hover and non-hover states included in a single image. By using :hover to reposition the background, you can eliminate any issues you are currently experiencing. This approach also reduces the number of individual requests sent to your web server.

It's important to remember to define the width and height of the anchor element in your CSS to match the size of your icon.

Answer №2

When using icons to convey information that is not already present in the document, it is recommended to use a genuine <img> tag.

However, the alt attribute should provide an alternative to the image rather than simply describing it.

alt="Edit this widget"

The title attribute should be reserved for advisory purposes only, avoiding implementation-specific terms like "Click here."

I find it questionable to nest link content within a span element just to apply display: none; in the CSS.

If resorting to background images with hidden text, consider using negative text-indent instead of setting display: none to ensure accessibility for screen readers.

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