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Accessibility Considerations for Short URLs: Design Links Everyone Can Use

Short URLs feel like a tiny detail—just a compact way to share a long address. But in the real world, short links show up everywhere: social posts, text messages, printed posters, presentations, TV screens, QR codes, customer support scripts, classroom handouts, and workplace documents. In all those places, a short URL isn’t just “a link.” It’s a piece of communication someone has to read, understand, trust, type, copy, pronounce, and activate—sometimes under time pressure, on a small screen, or with assistive technology.

Accessibility is about removing barriers so people with different abilities can successfully use the same experience. When it comes to short URLs, the “experience” includes more than the string of characters. It includes:

  • How the short link is displayed (font, color, context, surrounding text)
  • How it’s announced by screen readers
  • How easy it is to copy or type
  • How understandable it is (what it leads to, whether it’s trustworthy)
  • What happens during redirects (including warning pages, interstitials, previews)
  • What happens when something goes wrong (expired link, blocked content, mistyped code)
  • How your short-link product helps creators make inclusive choices

A random six-character code might be efficient for a database, but it can be difficult for a person with low vision to read, hard for a voice assistant to speak, confusing for someone with dyslexia, and error-prone for anyone trying to type it from a printed flyer. On the flip side, a short link that’s carefully designed—clear, consistent, and descriptive—can be more inclusive than many “normal” long links.

This article breaks down what makes short URLs accessible, where they commonly fail, and how to build an inclusive standard for your brand, your campaigns, and your link shortener platform.

What Accessibility Means for Short URLs

Accessibility for short URLs is ultimately about successful navigation—making sure the greatest number of people can reach the intended destination without confusion, frustration, or risk.

A helpful way to frame this is the four classic accessibility principles often summarized as:

  • Perceivable: People can see or hear the information (read the link, identify it, recognize it as a link).
  • Operable: People can interact with it (tap, click, keyboard navigate, voice control, copy/paste).
  • Understandable: People can interpret it (know what it is, what it likely does, and what happens next).
  • Robust: It works across devices and assistive technologies (screen readers, magnifiers, different browsers, older phones).

Short links touch all four principles, often in unexpected ways.

Example barrier patterns in short URLs:

  • A short code includes ambiguous characters (O and 0, I and l and 1).
  • The link is presented as raw characters with no descriptive text around it.
  • A campaign prints the short link in a stylized font that makes characters indistinguishable.
  • The redirect includes an interstitial page that traps keyboard users or isn’t readable by screen readers.
  • The link expires and shows a vague error without guidance, leaving people stranded.
  • The short link looks suspicious, so people don’t trust it—especially those who rely on assistive tech and are taught to be cautious.

Accessibility is not only about disability—though that’s the center of accessibility work. It also supports situational and temporary limitations: bright sunlight, cracked screens, slow connections, one-handed use, older devices, or trying to type a code while watching a presentation.

Why Short URLs Create Unique Accessibility Risks

Short URLs are powerful because they hide complexity. But that “hidden” part is also where accessibility can break.

1) They remove context

A long address can sometimes hint at the destination. A short code usually cannot. Without context, users may hesitate, and some may avoid clicking entirely—especially when they’ve been trained to avoid unknown links for safety.

2) They amplify readability issues

A single misread character can break the link. In a long address, a user might still copy the full string. In a short link, every character matters.

3) They’re often used in environments where copying is hard

On posters, slides, videos, or printouts, people must type the link manually. That’s where ambiguous characters and awkward patterns become real barriers.

4) They often involve redirects and intermediaries

Redirect chains can create extra loading, warnings, cookie prompts, and tracking pages—any of which can be inaccessible if built poorly.

5) They’re often created quickly without standards

Teams generate short links in a rush for campaigns, leaving accessibility as an afterthought unless the platform enforces it.

The good news: these risks are manageable. You can design short URLs that are easy to read, easy to speak, and easy to recover from when something goes wrong.

The Accessibility Foundations: Make the Link Easy to Read, Type, and Trust

The most accessible short link is the one that minimizes cognitive effort and prevents avoidable errors.

Accessibility Goal #1: Readability

People should be able to visually distinguish each character, even in poor conditions:

  • low resolution screens
  • small font sizes
  • projector blur
  • glare
  • low vision
  • dyslexia or other reading differences

Accessibility Goal #2: Typability

People should be able to type the link with low error rates:

  • on mobile keyboards
  • using one hand
  • using switch controls
  • with voice dictation
  • from printed material

Accessibility Goal #3: Speakability

People should be able to say the link out loud and be understood:

  • phone support scenarios
  • presentations
  • radio or podcast mentions
  • voice assistants

Accessibility Goal #4: Trust and clarity

People should have enough information to decide whether to proceed, without forcing them to take a risky action just to “find out.”

When short links are accessible, they become more effective too—higher completion rates, fewer support requests, fewer wrong-destination complaints, and better campaign performance.

Character Set Choices: The Smallest Decision With the Biggest Impact

One of the most important accessibility decisions in short URLs is the alphabet you allow.

Avoid ambiguous characters

Some characters are frequently confused, especially in certain fonts or for certain users:

  • O and 0
  • I, l, and 1
  • S and 5
  • B and 8
  • Z and 2
  • G and 6
  • m and rn (in tight fonts)
  • vv and w

A strong accessibility approach is to use a “safe” character set that removes lookalikes. Many systems adopt a reduced alphabet specifically to prevent transcription errors.

Practical rule:
If your short-link system generates random codes, use an unambiguous alphabet by default.

Prefer lowercase for human-facing links

Mixed case creates extra complexity:

  • Users may not know if case matters.
  • Voice dictation may not preserve case.
  • People typing from print may not notice capitalization.
  • Screen readers may announce characters differently depending on punctuation and capitalization patterns.

Practical rule:
Use lowercase-only aliases for anything intended to be typed by humans.

Be careful with symbols

Hyphens can improve readability for multi-word slugs, but too many separators can become confusing.

Balanced approach:

  • Use hyphens in descriptive aliases (two to four words).
  • Avoid underscores if your typography makes them hard to see.
  • Avoid sequences of punctuation.

Keep it short—but not cryptic

Shorter isn’t always more accessible if it becomes meaningless.

A four-character random code might be brief, but it’s also:

  • harder to validate mentally
  • easier to mistype into a different valid link
  • less trustworthy because it provides no hint of destination

A slightly longer but meaningful alias can be more accessible and more effective.

Practical rule:
For public campaigns, prioritize a meaningful alias over the absolute shortest possible code.

Cognitive Accessibility: Make Short Links Understandable at a Glance

Cognitive accessibility includes supporting people with:

  • dyslexia
  • attention differences
  • memory challenges
  • anxiety around security risks
  • limited digital literacy
  • language barriers

Short links often fail cognitive accessibility because they’re “machine-like.”

Use meaningful, predictable aliases when possible

Instead of random strings, use words that match the campaign:

  • Use a recognizable campaign keyword
  • Use a simple action phrase
  • Use a short topic label

Even if you can’t include full meaning, you can include category hints.

Cognitive-friendly patterns:

  • event name + year
  • product + feature
  • help + topic
  • signup + campaign

Avoid abbreviations unless they are truly universal

Internal acronyms can be confusing and exclude people not “in the know.” If you use abbreviations, pair them with context in surrounding text.

Limit complexity in word choice

Choose simple words. Avoid clever spelling and heavy wordplay. Accessibility favors clarity over novelty.

Avoid strings that look like codes people must memorize

If a short link is used on stage or on video, people are under pressure. Use a human-friendly alias they can remember and type quickly.

Provide context next to the short link

A short link alone is a mystery. Add a label:

  • “Register for the workshop: [short link]”
  • “Download the guide: [short link]”
  • “Student resources: [short link]”

When links are shared in documents or chat, context improves both accessibility and trust.

Screen Reader Accessibility: How Short Links Are Announced

Screen reader users navigate links in different ways:

  • reading through content linearly
  • jumping between headings
  • listing all links on a page
  • using rotor-style navigation (common on mobile)

If your short links appear as raw addresses, they may be read character-by-character or in a confusing way—especially if there are punctuation patterns.

Use descriptive link text instead of raw short URLs when possible

In web content (emails, landing pages, knowledge bases), you usually control the anchor text. Use it.

Good approach:
Make the visible text describe the destination, and keep the short link as the underlying target.

This helps everyone:

  • screen reader users hear meaningful labels
  • sighted users understand what they’re clicking
  • people scanning quickly can find what they need

Avoid “click here” and “read more”

Those phrases become meaningless when someone views a list of links out of context. Replace them with destination-based text:

  • “Read the accessibility guide”
  • “Download the event schedule”
  • “View pricing details”

If you must show the short URL, add a nearby label

Sometimes you must display the short URL for copying or typing. In those cases:

  • place a descriptive label immediately before it
  • ensure the label is programmatically associated when possible (in your own UI)
  • keep the short URL visually distinct but not isolated

Accessibility inside your short-link dashboard

If you operate a short-link platform, the UI itself must be accessible:

  • keyboard navigation for creating and managing links
  • proper form labels and instructions
  • clear error messages (not color-only)
  • accessible copy-to-clipboard buttons
  • predictable focus behavior after actions

A common issue: a “copy” icon button with no accessible name. Screen readers may announce it as “button” with no context. Fix by ensuring the button has a meaningful label like “Copy short link.”

Low Vision and Visual Design: How Short Links Should Look

Accessibility isn’t only the link’s characters; it’s how they are presented.

Ensure sufficient contrast

Links often rely on color differences (blue text). If contrast is too low, many users will struggle—especially with low vision or color vision differences.

If you control a UI where short links appear:

  • keep link color contrast strong against the background
  • include a non-color cue (underline is a classic, effective choice)
  • avoid relying solely on hover effects

Avoid decorative fonts for any link that must be typed

The moment someone must type a short URL, typography becomes an accessibility requirement. Decorative fonts can:

  • distort character shapes
  • blur on projectors
  • reduce readability at small sizes

Print and presentation rule:
Use a clean, simple font for the short link itself. If your brand uses stylized fonts, keep them for headings, not for codes.

Prevent awkward line breaks

If a short link wraps, it can be misread. In documents and presentations:

  • keep the short link on a single line when possible
  • increase spacing or font size to avoid wrap
  • avoid breaking after punctuation

In web UIs, apply wrapping rules so the link doesn’t break in the middle of a code in a confusing way.

Make copying easier than typing

Typing is error-prone. When the link is digital, make it easy to copy:

  • a “copy” button with a clear label
  • clear confirmation text like “Copied”
  • no tiny tap targets
  • keyboard-accessible copy action

This supports motor accessibility and reduces frustration for everyone.

Motor Accessibility: Tap Targets, Selection, and Control

People with motor disabilities may use:

  • keyboard-only navigation
  • switch control
  • voice control
  • trackballs or alternative mice
  • one-handed interaction
  • tremor-friendly settings

Short links can be hard to select accurately when they’re presented as small, dense text.

Build large, clear interactive targets

If you display a short link as an interactive element in your UI:

  • ensure it’s not cramped
  • provide a separate copy button with a large tap area
  • don’t require precise selection of characters

Avoid “tiny icon-only” actions

Small icons are hard to target. Pair icons with text labels or provide larger button surfaces.

Support keyboard-first workflows

In a link management dashboard:

  • every action should be reachable by keyboard
  • focus states should be visible
  • the tab order should follow a logical sequence
  • after creating a link, move focus to a success message or the result area

Don’t punish slow interaction

Some users need more time. Avoid timeouts on creation forms or redirect interstitial pages that require rapid action.

Voice and Dictation: Make Short Links Easy to Say and Capture

Voice interfaces are more common than ever:

  • voice dictation on phones
  • voice control for accessibility
  • assistants reading messages aloud
  • customer support reading links to customers

Short URLs with random characters are often spoken in awkward ways, increasing errors.

Use pronounceable patterns

If you can, choose aliases that are real words or simple phrases. These are easier to dictate correctly.

Avoid repeated letters and confusing sequences

Sequences like “lll” or “111” are easy to mishear. Repeated letters can also be annoying to confirm.

Provide a “spoken code” strategy for offline campaigns

For print, TV, radio, or live events, consider using a human-friendly code that can be spoken and remembered—then map it to the destination through your shortener.

A strong “spoken code” has:

  • simple words
  • minimal ambiguity
  • no tricky spelling
  • no similar-sounding alternatives

Support both “copyable link” and “typeable code”

For truly inclusive campaigns, offer:

  • a QR code for quick scanning
  • a short, readable alias for typing
  • a fallback code phrase that can be spoken

This multi-channel approach removes barriers across different access needs.

Trust and Security: Accessibility Includes Feeling Safe

Accessibility includes helping users make informed decisions without fear.

Short links can feel risky because they hide the destination. Many people—especially those trained to avoid phishing—hesitate.

Provide destination transparency when appropriate

For certain contexts, consider showing a preview experience that tells users where they will go. But be careful: preview pages can become accessibility barriers if built poorly.

If you use a preview or warning page:

  • keep it simple
  • ensure it’s keyboard accessible
  • ensure it works with screen readers
  • avoid confusing captchas
  • provide a clear “continue” action and a clear “go back” option
  • do not rely on color alone to indicate danger

Avoid unexpected interstitial ads or forced steps

Extra steps increase cognitive load, create navigation traps, and can break assistive tech flows.

If your business model includes interstitial steps, you must treat them like first-class pages:

  • accessible headings
  • clear instructions
  • no auto-advancing content that steals focus
  • accessible timers if you use them (and avoid requiring precise timing)
  • clear skip or continue controls

Use consistent branding to increase trust

A branded short domain can help users recognize the source. From an accessibility standpoint, recognition supports confidence, which supports completion.

But branding must not come at the cost of readability. Choose a short brand form that:

  • is easy to read
  • is easy to type
  • is not easily confused with similar-looking words

Communicate safety scanning in plain language

If you block malicious destinations or scan links, communicate that in plain, accessible language:

  • what happened
  • why it happened
  • what the user can do next

Avoid technical jargon and scary messages that don’t explain the next step.

Redirect Behavior: The Hidden Accessibility Layer

Redirects are the engine of short links. They’re also where many accessibility problems occur.

Keep redirects fast and stable

Slow redirects are more than a performance issue:

  • screen reader users may hear repeated page changes
  • people with attention differences may assume it failed and try again
  • users on older phones may experience timeouts
  • motion and flashing transitions can be disorienting

Minimize redirect chains

Each extra hop increases risk of failure and increases confusion. Strive for a single clean redirect whenever possible.

Preserve user preferences when possible

Some users have reduced motion settings, forced colors, or text scaling. If you show intermediate pages, respect these preferences.

Avoid focus traps and broken back button behavior

If you insert interstitial pages:

  • ensure keyboard focus can move through the page
  • ensure the back button behaves predictably
  • avoid auto-redirects that prevent users from reading the content

Error States: Accessible Short Links Must Fail Gracefully

Mistypes happen. Links expire. Content is removed. Policies block unsafe destinations. Your failure experience should be inclusive and helpful.

Common error scenarios to design for

  • mistyped alias (not found)
  • expired link
  • disabled link (policy or abuse)
  • destination unreachable
  • user blocked (regional restrictions, network filtering)
  • preview required but not available

What an accessible error page includes

  • A clear, descriptive page title (not just “Error”)
  • A short explanation in plain language
  • The short link code shown in a readable format
  • Next steps (search, contact, request new link)
  • No reliance on color-only warnings
  • Keyboard and screen-reader compatibility
  • No confusing technical codes as the main message

Offer recovery options

Recovery is part of accessibility. Examples:

  • suggest checking for common character confusions
  • allow searching by campaign name (if within a platform)
  • provide a way to report a problem
  • if safe, show a hint about the intended destination category

A blank “not found” page is a barrier. A helpful recovery page is inclusive design.

QR Codes and Short URLs: Designing for Inclusive Offline Access

QR codes are often paired with short URLs, but accessibility requires that QR codes never be the only path.

Always include a text alternative

Some people cannot scan:

  • older devices
  • broken cameras
  • privacy concerns
  • visual impairments
  • inaccessible scanning apps
  • poor lighting
  • printed materials at awkward angles

Include a readable short link next to the QR code. Make it large enough to type.

Provide spacing and clarity

On posters and print:

  • keep QR codes high contrast
  • avoid placing them on busy backgrounds
  • include a label explaining what happens (“Scan to get the schedule”)

Consider distance and resolution

A QR code on a billboard needs different sizing than one on a flyer. If people can’t scan it reliably, the QR code becomes a barrier.

Make the short alias “campaign-friendly”

Offline contexts are where meaningful aliases shine. People can type a word-based alias faster than a random code.

Internationalization and Language: Accessibility Across Cultures and Scripts

If your users are global, accessibility includes language and script support.

Support localized, readable aliases where appropriate

Some audiences prefer local-language words. But be careful:

  • different scripts may not type easily on all keyboards
  • some systems transform characters in unexpected ways
  • people may copy text between apps that normalize characters differently

A practical approach:

  • allow Unicode aliases when needed
  • also offer a simplified Latin fallback alias for cross-device typing
  • provide clear guidance for creators choosing between them

Avoid confusing transliterations

When you translate campaign words, ensure they remain readable and not overly long.

Right-to-left language considerations

In right-to-left contexts, mixed-direction text can display in confusing ways, especially when codes include numbers and punctuation.

If you support these languages:

  • test the display of short links in right-to-left layouts
  • ensure the alias doesn’t visually reorder in a way that confuses typing
  • ensure screen readers announce the code correctly

Building an Accessibility-First Short Link Naming Convention

A naming convention is one of the simplest ways to scale accessibility across an organization.

A strong convention answers:

  • What characters are allowed?
  • How long can an alias be?
  • When do we use meaningful aliases vs random codes?
  • How do we handle campaigns, dates, and versions?
  • How do we prevent collisions and confusion?
  • How do we handle capitalization, separators, and language?

Recommended convention rules (human-friendly)

  1. Use lowercase-only for human-facing aliases.
  2. Avoid ambiguous characters by design (especially in auto-generated codes).
  3. Prefer 1–4 simple words for public campaigns.
  4. Use hyphens as separators when needed, but avoid long chains.
  5. Avoid internal acronyms unless paired with context.
  6. Keep it consistent across teams so users learn the pattern.
  7. Reserve critical words (help, support, login, safety) to prevent misuse.
  8. Avoid sensitive or stigmatizing terms in aliases.
  9. Include a time marker only when it truly helps (like year for annual events).
  10. Document the rules and bake them into the platform.

When random codes are still acceptable

Random codes can be fine for:

  • private links shared digitally (copy/paste)
  • internal use cases where typing is unlikely
  • situations where privacy matters (not revealing campaign names)

Even then, use the unambiguous character set and avoid mixed case.

Product-Level Features That Improve Accessibility Automatically

If you run a URL shortener platform, you can make accessibility the default rather than a “best effort.”

1) An accessibility-safe code generator

  • excludes ambiguous characters
  • avoids repeated sequences
  • avoids offensive or confusing combinations
  • defaults to lowercase

2) A “human-friendly alias” suggestion engine

When users paste a destination, suggest a readable alias based on:

  • page title or topic
  • campaign name field
  • tags
  • language

Let users edit it, but guide them toward accessible patterns.

3) Real-time validation with plain-language feedback

Instead of “Invalid alias,” give actionable messages:

  • “This alias uses characters that are hard to distinguish in print.”
  • “This alias is long and may wrap on small screens.”
  • “This alias includes mixed case, which can confuse voice typing.”

4) A preview of how the link will look in common contexts

Show a mock view of:

  • a social post snippet
  • a text message line
  • a printed flyer line
  • a slide display

Include warnings if it wraps or becomes hard to read.

5) Built-in copy tools that are accessible

  • clear “Copy” button labels
  • keyboard shortcuts
  • confirmation text that screen readers can announce
  • no reliance on tiny icon-only UI

6) Accessible warning and interstitial templates

If your platform uses warning pages:

  • provide accessible templates by default
  • ensure focus management and headings are correct
  • avoid forced timers or inaccessible interactions

7) Expiration and retirement management with graceful fallbacks

When a link expires, let creators choose:

  • redirect to a replacement page
  • show a branded helpful message
  • provide contact instructions
  • avoid dead ends

8) Reporting and abuse handling that is accessible

If users report unsafe links:

  • ensure the report flow is easy to use with keyboards and screen readers
  • provide clear confirmation and next steps
  • avoid overly complex forms

Accessibility Checklist for Short Links in Campaigns

Use this checklist when launching a short link publicly.

Link design checklist

  • Alias is lowercase-only (for human typing)
  • Alias avoids ambiguous characters
  • Alias is meaningful or clearly associated with the campaign
  • Alias length is appropriate for print and slides
  • No confusing punctuation or repeated sequences

Presentation checklist

  • Short link displayed in a readable font
  • High contrast against background
  • Not wrapped across lines
  • Surrounded by descriptive context (“what you get”)
  • Copy option provided in digital formats

QR and offline checklist

  • QR code has a text alternative (short link)
  • Short link is large enough to type
  • Clear label describes the destination
  • Placement avoids glare, clutter, and awkward angles

Redirect and destination checklist

  • Redirect is fast and minimal
  • If a warning/preview exists, it is accessible
  • Destination page is mobile-friendly and accessible
  • No unexpected barriers (tricky popups, inaccessible cookie prompts)

Failure checklist

  • Mistypes lead to helpful error guidance
  • Expired links have a clear message and next steps
  • Blocked links explain why and what to do next

Testing Short Link Accessibility: Practical Methods That Work

Accessibility improves fastest when you test the real way people use short links.

1) Print test

Print your poster or flyer at actual size and test:

  • Can you read the link from typical distance?
  • Can you distinguish each character?
  • Can you type it without guessing?

2) Slide test

Put the link on a slide and view it:

  • on a projector
  • on a small laptop
  • from the back of a room

If you can’t read it easily, many people can’t.

3) Keyboard-only test in your dashboard

Try creating, copying, editing, and deleting a link using only the keyboard. If any step feels confusing, it’s likely a barrier.

4) Screen reader spot checks

Even quick checks help:

  • Are buttons labeled clearly (especially copy buttons)?
  • Do error messages announce properly?
  • Are link lists navigable?

5) Voice dictation test

Try dictating your short alias into a phone:

  • Does it come out correctly?
  • Does it misinterpret the alias?
  • Would a customer be able to do this while talking to support?

6) Mistype recovery test

Intentionally mistype:

  • swap O and 0, I and 1 (or similar)
  • add or remove a character
  • change case

Your system should either prevent these characters or provide a helpful recovery path.

Common Accessibility Mistakes With Short URLs (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Using random codes in offline campaigns

Why it’s a problem: hard to type, hard to trust, easy to mistype.
Fix: use a meaningful alias designed for humans.

Mistake 2: Stylizing the short link for branding

Why it’s a problem: reduces readability and increases transcription errors.
Fix: keep branding around the link, not inside the characters.

Mistake 3: Showing only a QR code

Why it’s a problem: excludes people who can’t scan.
Fix: always include a readable short link as a text alternative.

Mistake 4: Relying on color alone to indicate a link

Why it’s a problem: color vision differences and low contrast reduce discoverability.
Fix: underline links or otherwise visually indicate them.

Mistake 5: Inaccessible interstitials

Why it’s a problem: keyboard traps, unlabeled buttons, confusing focus, screen reader chaos.
Fix: treat interstitials as real pages with proper accessibility structure.

Mistake 6: Dead-end error pages

Why it’s a problem: no recovery path, high frustration, increased support load.
Fix: provide guidance, next steps, and clear explanations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are short URLs inherently inaccessible?

No. They can be accessible if designed with readability, typability, and clarity in mind. Many accessibility issues come from random code choices, poor presentation, and inaccessible redirect pages—not from the concept of shortening itself.

Should we always use meaningful aliases?

Not always. Meaningful aliases are best for public sharing and offline scenarios. Random codes can be fine for private or internal use when copying is the primary method. The key is matching the alias strategy to the context.

What’s the most important rule for accessibility?

Avoid ambiguity. If users can misread a character, mistype a code, or misunderstand what the link does, the short link becomes a barrier. Clear characters plus clear context solves most problems.

What if our marketing team insists on ultra-short codes?

Ultra-short doesn’t have to mean random. You can still be concise with meaningful words. Also, remind stakeholders: the “shortest” link that people can’t use is longer than the “slightly longer” link that everyone can complete.

How do we balance privacy with descriptive aliases?

Use meaningful aliases when the audience benefits from clarity, and use neutral codes when revealing context is sensitive. You can also use category-level meaning without revealing specifics.

Conclusion: Accessible Short URLs Are Better Short URLs

Accessibility considerations for short URLs aren’t separate from good marketing or good engineering—they’re the same thing. When a short link is readable, easy to type, easy to understand, and safe to trust, more people can use it successfully. That means fewer drop-offs, fewer mistakes, fewer support tickets, and stronger campaign results.

The best approach is to stop treating accessibility as a manual checklist people forget under deadlines. Build accessibility into the system:

  • safer character sets
  • meaningful alias defaults
  • clear UI labels and keyboard support
  • accessible redirects and error states
  • strong naming conventions that scale

Short URLs may be small, but their impact is enormous. When you design them for inclusion, you’re not only meeting accessibility needs—you’re building a link experience that works better for everyone.