How to Make a URL or Web Address in HTML in Notepad

Writing a URL or Web address in HTML is a relatively simple process. Notepad, a program available in Microsoft Windows, is a good basic platform for manual HTML coding and simple editing. However, it's not necessary to use Notepad; follow the coding directions in any text editing program.

Things You'll Need

• Computer running Microsoft Windows 95 or later versions

Instructions

1. Click "Start" on the Taskbar. Click "All Programs," "Accessories" (or just click "Accessories," depending on the format of your Start menu), and then "Notepad." A blank Notepad document opens.

2. Before you create the code, learn a little background information about HTML. HTML code is made up of "tags," which usually, but not always, appear in pairs (called opening and closing tags) and enclosed in brackets that look like > or <. The bracket that points to the left appears at the beginning of the tag and the bracket that points to the right appears at the end. The tags for indicating a URL, <a> and </a>, are called anchor tags. Text that will be displayed on a Web page can be placed between sets of tags that define attributes like font, size, color, and whether the text is a link.

3. Type <a href=" and then type your URL or Web address. Close this open tag with another quotation mark and a right-pointing bracket. Your example should look like this:
   <a href="http://www.titleofthewebsite.com">

4. Without adding a space after the tag, type a title for the link. This title will appear on any website containing this code. You can also reenter the URL if you want the URL to be displayed rather than a descriptive title.

5. Type </a> and check that your code matches this: <a href="http://www.titleofthewebsite.com">Your Title</a>. (But don't put a period at the end.)

6. Save your document for further reference or copy and paste your code as needed. Congratulations! You have successfully created the HTML code for a Web address.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to include the http:// part of the Web address, because there are other types of prefixes, called protocols, that serve different purposes. For example, some websites with more security for your personal information start with "https://" and some file transfer sites start with "ftp://". If your Web address has either of these, just replace http:// with the correct protocol.

• If you're trying to build a Web page with a link list, consult an HTML tutorial to find out what tags and information you must include for your code to work properly in Web browsers.

References

• Idocs Guide to HTML
• HTML Explained: What Does HTTP Stand For?

Resources

• HTML Tutorial