Links are found in nearly all web pages. Links allow users to click their way from page to page.
HTML Links - HyperlinksHTML links are hyperlinks.
You can click on a link and jump to another document.
When you move the mouse over a link, the mouse arrow will turn into a little hand.
Note: A link does not have to be text. A link can be an imageor any other HTML element!
HTML Links - SyntaxThe HTML tag defines a hyperlink. It has the following syntax:
link textThe most important attribute of theelement is the href attribute, which indicates the link's destination.
The link text is the part that will be visible to the reader.
Clicking on the link text, will send the reader to the specified URL address.
ExampleThis example shows how to create a link to W3Schools.com:
Visit W3Schools.com!Try it Yourself »By default, links will appear as follows in all browsers:
An unvisited link is underlined and blue A visited link is underlined and purple An active link is underlined and redTip: Links can of course be styled with CSS, to getanother look!
HTML Links - The target AttributeBy default, the linked page will be displayed in the current browser window. To change this, you must specify another target for the link.
The target attribute specifies where to open the linked document.
The target attribute can have one of the following values:
_self - Default. Opens the document inthe same window/tab as it was clicked _blank - Opens the document in a new window or tab _parent - Opens the document in the parent frame _top - Opens the document in the full body of the windowExampleUse target="_blank" to open the linked document in a new browser window or tab:
Visit W3Schools!Try it Yourself »Absolute URLs vs. Relative URLsBoth examples above are using an absolute URL (a full web address) in the href attribute.
A local link (a link to a page within the same website) is specified with a relative URL (without the "https://www" part):
Example Absolute URLsW3C
RelativeURLs
HTML Images
CSSTutorial
Try it Yourself »HTML Links - Use an Image as a LinkTo use an image as a link, just put thetag inside the tag:
ExampleTry it Yourself »Link to an Email AddressUse mailto: inside the href attribute to create a link that opens the user's email program (to let them send a new email):
Example Send emailTry it Yourself »Button as a LinkTo use an HTML button as a link, you have to add some JavaScript code.
JavaScript allows you to specify what happens at certain events, such as a click of a button:
ExampleHTML TutorialTry it Yourself »Tip: Learn more about JavaScript in our JavaScript Tutorial.
Link TitlesThe title attribute specifies extra information about an element.The information is most often shown as a tooltip text when the mouse moves over the element.
Example Visit our HTML TutorialTry it Yourself »More on Absolute URLs and Relative URLsExampleUse a full URL to link to a web page:
HTML tutorialTry it Yourself »
ExampleLink to a page located in the html folder on the current web site:
HTML tutorialTry it Yourself »
ExampleLink to a page located in the same folder as the current page:
HTML tutorialTry it Yourself »
You can read more about file paths in the chapter HTML File Paths.
Chapter Summary Use the element to define a link Use the href attribute to define the link address Use the target attribute to define where to open the linked document Use theelement (inside )to use an image as a link Use themailto: scheme inside the href attribute to create a link that opens the user's email programHTML Link TagsTagDescriptionDefines a hyperlinkFor a complete list of all available HTML tags, visit our HTML Tag Reference.
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