How (not to) name things

Imagine every sign stating "you are now in front of a sign". Or the LinkedIn-app is now called "this is an app".

A name is supposed to help you identify something. It sets it apart from other things of the same kind.

HTML already has something to tell you what kind the object/element is. That is what semantics do.

• A <p> is a paragraph; a bit of text.
• An <a> is an anchor; it's a link that can take you somewhere.
• A <button> is a button; it performs an action.
• role="dialog" is a dialog

Names are there to tell one button apart from another. HTML already tells you it's a button. Now add a name to tell which button it is!

• Don't use a name to tell somebody is in a dialog, when the role does that.
• Don't add "image" to a text alternative for an image. It's already clear it's an image.
• Don't add "go to" to the name of a link. That's what links do. They go somewhere.

All of that is noise. Give a clear identifying name.

More about semantics: https://www.erikkroes.nl/blog/semantics-what-does-it-mean/