Hyperlink
HTML Hyperlinks are build using <a> tag. Formally known as anchor tag, hyperlink defines a link <a href=""> in html document. A hyperlink connect a webpage with other webpages or external pages. Hyperlink can be used as Internal Link, External Link, Email Link or telephone link .
In HTML5, an hyperlink can contain both block level and inline level elements. That means, we can write text, image or a div inside hyperlink.
Anchor Tag
Anchor Tag was the previous name of hyperlinks till html4/xhtml. But HTML5 renamed anchor tag to hyperlink.
Hyperlink
Hyperlink means an a tag with href attribute. Hyperlink is used to link webpages.
Hyperlink Attributes
Hyperlinks included both compulsory and recommended attributes. Here is a attributes used in hyperlinks.
| Attribute | Use |
|---|---|
| href | http path hyperlink |
| target | target of hyperlink, by-default its _self. |
| download | to download hyperlink path instead of opening |
| rel | rel="noreferrer" or rel="noopener" for external links |
| tabindex | change tabindex of hyperlinks |
Type of Hyperlinks
There are six types hyperlinks. Types of Hyperlinks are defined on the basis of their path. Here are six type of html hyperlinks with example and usage.
Hyperlinks Types
Empty Link
An hyperlink without href value id blank link. Usually we avoid empty hyperlinks as they refresh or reload webpages.
Prevent hyperlink to reload page
Relative Path
Relative link means a hyperlink with path relative to root directory. If your webpage is saved on desktop, then desktop is your root directory, but if it's in a folder, that folder is your root directory.
<a href="webdesigning.html">Web Designing Tutorials </a>
Absolute Path
Absolute Link is hyperlink with Absolute Path. This could be http, https, or file protocol based.
<a href="https://tutorial.techaltum.com/webdesigning.html">Web Designing Tutorials </a>
Internal Link
Internal Link is hyperlink with Internal Path. To call an element with id, internal link is used. As id is unique, internal link call that element.
<a href="#home">Home</a>
<a href="#about">About</a>
<a href="#blog">Blog</a>
<div id="home">Section 1 Division</div>
<div id="about">Section 2 Division</div>
<div id="blog">Section 3 Division</div>
Email Link
Mailto is used to create Click to mail link or Email Link in html. This is very useful when we are showing our mail to user. On click of mail link, your mail application, (Outlook, Gmail, mail etc) will open compose tab.
<a href="mailto:user@domain.com">Mail Us</a>
Mail with Subject
<a href="mailto:user@domain.com?subject=test">Mail Us</a>
Mail with Subject and cc
<a href="mailto:user@domain.com?subject=test&cc=mail2@domain.com">Mail Us</a>
Telephone Link
Click to call is used using tel: followed by phone number in href. This is recommended on a webpage to show telephone numbers with click to call feature.
<a href="tel:+9101204280181">Call Tech Altum</a>
SMS Link
SMS link is used using sms: followed by phone number in href. This is used to send sms on click of link.
<a href="sms:+919898989898?&body=hello there">Call Tech Altum</a>
Hypertext Reference ( href="")
href attribute is used in an anchor tag to specify the URL( Uniform Resource Location) of the page link to go. It can be a relative link, absolute link or an id.
Relative Link
A relative Link is used to link pages within same domain.
Example of Relative link
<a href="contact.html">Link 1</a>
Relative link in same directory
<a href="blog/blog1.html">Link 2</a>
Relative link in child directory
<a href="../cart.html">Link 3</a>
Relative link in parent directory
<a href="/cart.html">Link 4</a>
Root directory
Absolute Link
An Absolute Link is used to link pages from their Absolute Path. for exp
<a href="http://www.domain.com">Link</a> is an Absolute Link as it contains domain name and page.
Example of Absolute link?
<a href="http://www.domain.com">Link</a>
( Absolute Link)
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thetechaltum">Join us on Facebook</a>
( Absolute Link of facebook page)
Target attribute
A target attribute ( target="" ) is used to tell window where to open that particular link.
Various values of target
- _self ( By Default) Open link in same window
- _blankopen link in new tab
- name of frame( iframe or frame)Open the link on frame whose name is there