TypeScript Lab: Icon Link Naming

LAB / EXPLORATION

TypeScript Lab: Icon Link Naming

Planned

LAB 076 — Semantic HTML
Give icon-only links accessible names when reliable text exists.

LAB TypeScript Lab: Icon Link Naming Preview coming soon

LAB 076

TypeScript Lab: Icon Link Naming

Concept

Accessible naming can be added conditionally when visible link text is absent.

Concept

Accessible naming can be added conditionally when visible link text is absent.

Objective & Explanation

What the project should make visible and why the concept matters.

Learning Target

Objective

Give icon-only links accessible names when reliable text exists.

Explanation

Accessible naming can be added conditionally when visible link text is absent.

Project Plan

Structure, technologies, data boundary, and source connection.

Structure

project/
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
├── index.html
├── styles.css
└── src/
    └── app.ts

Technologies

TypeScript
DOM
HTML
CSS

Data Layer

No persistent data layer. Keep all demonstration values inside the standalone project.

Sandbox Source

src/local-editor/client.ts → semanticAssistHtml()

Build Instructions

Build only the focused behavior, then use the visual layer to inspect it.

Setup

Create the standalone project folder and listed files.

Implement

Implement the smallest version that demonstrates the concept.

Run & Inspect

Change one input and observe the visible output change.

Code & Configuration

Starter configuration plus the focused implementation example.

Focused TypeScript

Implement this behavior first, then alter the input.

document.querySelectorAll("a[href]").forEach(link => {
  const visible = link.textContent?.trim();
  const title = link.getAttribute("title")?.trim();

  if (!visible && title && !link.hasAttribute("aria-label")) {
    link.setAttribute("aria-label", title);
  }
});

Starter Configuration

Keep the project independently buildable.

package.json

{
  "type": "module",
  "scripts": { "build": "tsc" },
  "devDependencies": { "typescript": "^7.0.2" }
}

tsconfig.json

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "rootDir": "./src",
    "outDir": "./dist",
    "target": "ES2022",
    "module": "ES2022",
    "lib": ["ES2022", "DOM"],
    "strict": true,
    "sourceMap": true
  },
  "include": ["src/**/*.ts"]
}

Expected Visual Result

The output is the proof that the concept is working.

Visible Proof

The browser should visibly demonstrate: give icon-only links accessible names when reliable text exists.

Data: None