What is link?
A link, short for hyperlink, is a clickable element on a webpage that connects you to another location-another page, a different part of the same page, a file, or an external website. When you click it, your browser follows the address (URL) stored in the link and loads the new content.
Let's break it down
- Anchor text: The visible words or image you click on.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The address the link points to, like https://example.com.
- HTML tag: In web code, a link is created with the
<a>tag, e.g.,<a href="https://example.com">Visit site</a>. - Target attribute: Optional setting that decides where the linked page opens (same tab, new tab, etc.).
Why does it matter?
Links are the backbone of the web. They let users move between information quickly, help search engines discover and index pages, and enable the flow of data across sites. Without links, the internet would be a collection of isolated pages rather than an interconnected network.
Where is it used?
- Navigation menus on websites
- Articles and blogs to reference sources
- Buttons that trigger downloads or actions
- Email signatures and social media posts
- Mobile apps that open web pages or other apps
Good things about it
- Easy navigation: Users can jump to related content with a single click.
- SEO boost: Quality inbound and outbound links improve search rankings.
- Content sharing: Links let you share resources quickly across platforms.
- Flexibility: Can link to any type of resource-pages, images, videos, PDFs, etc.
Not-so-good things
- Broken links: If the destination moves or is removed, the link leads to a 404 error, hurting user experience.
- Security risks: Malicious links can lead to phishing sites or download malware.
- Overlinking: Too many links can clutter a page and distract readers.
- Dependency: Relying on external sites means you have less control over the linked content’s availability.