How does RouterLink differ from a regular <a href>?

The difference between RouterLink and a regular <a href=""> is in the navigation mechanics:

#<a href="">

• Refreshes the whole document - a full page reload.
• The request goes to the server, even if the page already exists in the application.
• Works independently of Angular.

#[routerLink]

• Uses the Angular Router - navigation without a reload.
• Only part of the page is updated (through <router-outlet>).
• Faster, controlled, and you can add parameters, guards, lazy loading, and so on.

Roughly speaking: href means "leave and reload", routerLink means "stay and just show something else".