HTML Level 1 and 2 Manual

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Element Index > Links

<A> Element

Category: Links
Period: HTML 1 / HTML 2.0
Status: core

Description

Creates a hyperlink or a named anchor.

Syntax

<A HREF="page.html">link text</A>

Attributes

HREF, NAME, TITLE, REL, REV, URN, METHODS. HREF and NAME were the everyday attributes.

Usage Guidelines

• Use meaningful link text; avoid "click here" when possible.
• Use relative URLs for links inside a small site so it can be moved to another directory.
• Use NAME to make a target within a long page.
• Do not put huge blocks of text in one link.

Common Mistakes

• Broken relative paths were one of the commonest early-web errors.
• An anchor with NAME and no HREF is a target, not a clickable link.

Example Code

<A HREF="../index.html">Home</A>
<A NAME="syntax">Syntax section</A>

Authoring Note

Write the document first, then test it in a graphical browser and a text browser. The page should remain understandable if images fail, colours are ignored, or the browser uses its own fonts.

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