HTML Links

From http://www.w3schools.com (Copyright Refsnes Data)

# HTML Links

A link is the "address" to a document (or a resource) on the web.

## Examples

HTML links
This example demonstrates how to create links in an HTML document.

Open a link in a new browser window
This example demonstrates how to link to another page by opening a new window, so that the visitor does not have to leave your Web site.

(You can find more examples at the bottom of this page)

## Hyperlinks, Anchors, and Links

In web terms, a hyperlink is a reference (an address) to a resource on the web.

Hyperlinks can point to any resource on the web: an HTML page, an image, a sound file, a movie, etc.

An anchor is a term used to define a hyperlink destination inside a document.

The HTML anchor element <a>, is used to define both hyperlinks and anchors.

We will use the term HTML link when the <a> element points to a resource, and the term HTML anchor when the <a> elements defines an address inside a document..

## An HTML Link

Link syntax:

    <a href="url">Link text</a>

The start tag contains attributes about the link.

The element content (Link text) defines the part to be displayed.

Note: The element content don't have to be a text. You can link from an image or any other HTML element.

## The href Attribute

The href attribute defines the link "address".

This <a> element defines a link to W3Schools:

    <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/">Visit W3Schools!</a>

The code above will display like this in a browser:

Visit W3Schools!

## The target Attribute

The target attribute defines where the linked document will be opened.

The code below will open the document in a new browser window:

    <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/"
    target="_blank">Visit W3Schools!</a>

Try it yourself

## The name Attribute

When the name attribute is used, the <a> element defines a named anchor inside a HTML document.

Named anchor are not displayed in any special way. They are invisible to the reader.

Named anchor syntax:

    <a name="label">Any content</a>

The link syntax to a named anchor:

    <a href="#label">Any content</a>

The # in the href attribute defines a link to a named anchor.

## Example:

A named anchor inside an HTML document:

    <a name="tips">Useful Tips Section</a>

A link to the Useful Tips Section from the same document:

    <a href="#tips">
    Jump to the Useful Tips Section</a>

A link to the Useful Tips Section from another document:

    <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/html_tutorial.htm#tips">
    Jump to the Useful Tips Section</a>

## Basic Notes - Useful Tips

Always add a trailing slash to subfolder references. If you link like this: href="http://www.w3schools.com/html", you will generate two HTTP requests to the server, because the server will add a slash to the address and create a new request like this: href="http://www.w3schools.com/html/"

Named anchors are often used to create "table of contents" at the beginning of a large document. Each chapter within the document is given a named anchor, and links to each of these anchors are put at the top of the document.

If a browser cannot find a named anchor that has been specified, it goes to the top of the document. No error occurs.

## More Examples

An image as a link
This example demonstrates how to use an image as a link.

Link to a location on the same page
This example demonstrates how to use a link to jump to another part of a document.

Break out of a frame
This example demonstrates how to break out of a frame, if your site is locked in a frame.

Create a mailto link
This example demonstrates how to link to a mail message (will only work if you have mail installed).

Create a mailto link 2
This example demonstrates a more complicated mailto link.

## Link Tags

Tag | Description
--- | ---
<a> | Defines an anchor

From http://www.w3schools.com (Copyright Refsnes Data)