Skip link
A skip link is a hidden-by-default link at the top of a page that becomes visible when keyboard-focused, allowing keyboard and screen-reader users to bypass repetitive navigation and jump straight to the main content.
Detailed explanation
WCAG 2.0 SC 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks) requires a mechanism to skip blocks of content repeated across pages — typically the header, navigation, and announcement bar. The dominant implementation is a "Skip to main content" link that is positioned off-screen by default and becomes visible on `:focus`.
A correctly-implemented skip link is the first focusable element on the page. When a keyboard user presses Tab on a fresh page load, the skip link receives focus and reveals itself. Pressing Enter jumps focus to the `id="main-content"` element on the page.
How this applies to Shopify stores
Most Shopify themes ship with a skip link in `theme.liquid`, but custom themes and theme customizations sometimes break it (positioning bugs, missing target ID, broken focus styles). AccessComply audits the skip link's presence, position, target, and focus styling.
What merchants should check next
Treat this term as a practical audit prompt, not just a definition. Check the storefront pages where the concept shows up in real customer journeys: product discovery, add-to-cart, cart drawer, checkout handoff, account login, and support contact flows. If the issue affects code, verify the rendered HTML and computed browser output after the theme change. If it affects copy or media, keep the merchant-facing wording accurate and easy to maintain.
Primary source: w3.org