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Table of contents
HTML Reference
HTML by Alphabet
HTML by Function
HTML Attributes
HTML Events
HTML Colornames
HTML Character Sets
HTML ASCII
HTML ISO-8859-1
HTML Symbols
HTML URL Encode
HTML Lang Codes
HTTP Messages

HTML Tags
<!-->
<!DOCTYPE>
<a>
<abbr>
<acronym>
<address>
<applet>
<area>
<b>
<base>
<basefont>
<bdo>
<big>
<blockquote>
<body>
<br>
<button>
<caption>
<center>
<cite>
<code>
<col>
<colgroup>
<dd>
<del>
<dfn>
<dir>
<div>
<dl>
<dt>
<em>
<fieldset>
<font>
<form>
<frame>
<frameset>
<head>
<h1> - <h6>
<hr>
<html>
<i>
<iframe>
<img>
<input>
<ins>
<kbd>
<label>
<legend>
<li>
<link>
<map>
<menu>
<meta>
<noframes>
<noscript>
<object>
<ol>
<optgroup>
<option>
<p>
<param>
<pre>
<q>
<s>
<samp>
<script>
<select>
<small>
<span>
<strike>
<strong>
<style>
<sub>
<sup>
<table>
<tbody>
<td>
<textarea>
<tfoot>
<th>
<thead>
<title>
<tr>
<tt>
<u>
<ul>
<var>

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HTML <a> tag


Example

A link to W3Schools.com:

<a href="http://www.w3schools.com">Visit W3Schools.com!</a>

Try it yourself!  (more examples at the bottom of this page)


Definition and Usage

The <a> tag defines an anchor. An anchor can be used in two ways:

  1. To create a link to another document, by using the href attribute
  2. To create a bookmark inside a document, by using the name attribute

The a element is usually referred to as a link or a hyperlink.

The most important attribute of the a element is the href attribute, which indicates the link’s destination.

By default, links will appear as follows in all browsers:

  • An unvisited link is underlined and blue
  • A visited link is underlined and purple
  • An active link is underlined and red

Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

The <a> tag is supported in all major browsers.


Differences Between HTML and XHTML

NONE


Tips and Notes

Tip: Use CSS to style links!


Optional Attributes

DTD indicates in which DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

Attribute Value Description DTD
charset char_encoding Specifies the character encoding of the target URL STF
coords

coordinates

Used with the shape attribute to specify the size, shape, and placement of a link in an object or img element STF
href URL Specifies the target URL of the link STF
hreflang language_code Specifies the language of the document in the target URL STF
name section_name Defines an anchor (use this attribute to create a bookmark in a document) STF
rel alternate
stylesheet
start
next
prev
contents
index
glossary
copyright
chapter
section
subsection
appendix
help
bookmark
Specifies the relationship between the current document and the target URL STF
rev alternate
stylesheet
start
next
prev
contents
index
glossary
copyright
chapter
section
subsection
appendix
help
bookmark
Specifies the relationship between the target URL and the current document STF
shape rect
rectangle
circ
circle
poly
polygon
Defines the shape of a link STF
target _blank
_parent
_self
_top
framename

Specifies where to open the target URL

TF
type mime_type Specifies the MIME type of the target URL STF

Standard Attributes

id, class, title, style, dir, lang, xml:lang, tabindex, accesskey

For a full description, go to Standard Attributes.

Event Attributes

onfocus, onblur, onclick, ondblclick, onmousedown, onmouseup, onmouseover, onmousemove, onmouseout, onkeypress, onkeydown, onkeyup

For a full description, go to Event Attributes.


Try-It-Yourself Demos

Create hyperlinks
How to create hyperlinks.

An image as a link
How to use an image as a link.

Open a link in a new browser window
How to open a link in a new browser window, so that the visitor does not have to leave your Web site.

Link to a location on the same page
How to link to a bookmark.

Break out of a frame
How to break out of a frame (if your site is locked in a frame).

Create a mailto link
How to link to a mail message (will only work if you have mail installed).

Create a mailto link 2
Another mailto link.



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