What is a link (hyperlink) in HTML?

HTMLJunior~2 min read

A link (hyperlink) in HTML is an element that lets you go from one page to another, or perform an action (for example, open a file, go to an e-mail, jump to an anchor, and so on).

Links are created using the <a> tag (anchor - "anchor point").

1. Simplest example

html

<a href="https://example.com">Go to the site</a>

What's here:

<a>: the link tag;
href: (Hypertext REFerence) the address the link points to;
the text inside (Go to the site): what can be clicked.

On click, the browser opens the specified address.

2. Link structure

html

<a href="URL">text or content</a>

Part	Purpose
`<a>`	The link's opening tag
`href`	The destination address (URL)
`text`	What the user sees and clicks
`</a>`	The closing tag

3. Types of links

External link:

html

<a href="https://google.com">Google</a>

Opens another page or site.

Internal (to another page of the site):

html

<a href="/about.html">About us</a>

Anchor (jump to part of the page):

html

<a href="#contacts">Contacts</a>

<section id="contacts">...</section>

Link to a file:

html

<a href="files/report.pdf" download>Download the report</a>

The download attribute makes the browser download the file instead of opening it.

Link to email or phone:

html

<a href="mailto:info@example.com">Send an email</a>
<a href="tel:+12345678900">Call</a>

4. Useful attributes

Attribute	Purpose	Example
`href`	Specifies the link's address	`href="https://example.com"`
`target="_blank"`	Opens the link in a new tab	`<a href="..." target="_blank">`
`title`	Tooltip shown on hover	`<a title="Go to the site">`
`rel="noopener noreferrer"`	Protection when opening in a new tab (recommended with `_blank`)	`<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">`
`download`	Downloads the file	`<a href="file.pdf" download>`

5. Inside `<a>` you can place more than just text

html

<a href="https://example.com">
  <img src="button.png" alt="Button">
</a>

The picture itself becomes clickable.

6. Example of a complex link

html

<a href="https://example.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in a new tab">
  Go to the site →
</a>

Summary:

Parameter	Value
Tag	`<a>`
Main attribute	`href`: the destination address
Purpose	Creates a hyperlink between documents or elements
Additional features	Opening in a new tab, downloading, anchors, e-mail, phone
Use cases	Navigation, buttons, links, menus, calls to action

In simple terms: <a> is a bridge between pages. It tells the browser:

"If the user clicks here, go to this address."

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