How to Use HTML Tags for Links

The best way to send someone to see something on the web is to give them the link. It takes a bit more typing for you, but people are much more likely to go where you send them if you make it easy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A website to link to
• 1 or 2 HTML tags

How to Use HTML Tags for Links

1. Almost every HTML (hypertext markup language) tag has two parts, the open and the close. Every tag opens with a "lesser than" sign (<) and closes with a forward slash "/" and a "greater than" sign (/>).

2. 
   The Parts of a Link Tag

   The basic tag for a link starts with "a href="website"
   In the middle goes the text for your link, as in "click here"
   At the end goes the closing tag, with "/a"
   The image shows the three parts of a typical link.

3. Do you want to have the link open in a separate browser window or tab? That's what the "target=new" attribute does.

4. Now you need to type your text for the link. It can be the name of the site you're linking to, or it can just say "click here." It's usually better if the text describes the site in some way, so people have an idea where they're going.

5. 
   Tag for a Clickable Image

   You can also use an image for your link, instead of text. You'll need to use one more HTML tag and you need to know the URL for your image. In that case, your link will look like this example.

Tips & Warnings

• These are all on separate lines to make it easier to see. You can type all the tag parts and text together on one line.
• Remember that any web address must be complete, with http:// and .com or whatever.
• Don't forget to surround your URL with quotes. ("..")
• Make sure you check your links after you post them. You might also want to check them every so often if they're going to be there for a while.

Resources

• A GREAT Teach Yourself HTML Book
• HTML Tutorial

[vane315]

on 4/14/2009 Thank you!!! you have no Idea how long I've been looking for this!!!!

[WendyRenee]

on 5/27/2008 great!!