HTML <a> Tag
The HTML <a>
tag is used for creating an a
element (also known as an "anchor" element).
The a
element represents a hyperlink. This is usually a link to another document.
You can use the <a>
tag to link text or images. You can also link a large block of content (even containing multiple elements) if required - it's not just restricted to hyperlinking single elements. However, there must be no "interactive content" descendant.
Syntax
The <a>
tag is written as <a href=""></a>
with the linked URL between the double quotes of the href
attribute and the anchor text (i.e. the text that the user sees) between the start and end tags.
Like this:
Examples
Basic tag usage
Open the link in a new window (or tab)
Here we use target="_blank"
to open the link in a new window.
Reload the new window
Here we open multiple links in a new window, but instead of a new window being opened with each link, a new window is opened with the first link, then the following links load their contents into that window.
We do this simply by giving the target
attribute a name that doesn't exist (i.e. we make up our own name for the window/tab).
Linked Image
Here we wrap the <a>
around an image to create a linked image.
No-Follow
Here we use rel="nofollow"
to create a "nofollow" link. This can be used to tell search engines that you don't endorse the content at the other end of the link. The nofollow
attribute value is typically used on paid links and advertising.
Many people refer to this as the "nofollow tag" but it's not actually a tag. It's not even an attribute (the attribute is rel
). The nofollow
bit is simply a value of the rel
attribute.
Attributes
Attributes can be added to an HTML element to provide more information about how the element should appear or behave.
The <a>
element accepts the following attributes.
Attribute | Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
href | Specifies the URL of a page that the link goes to. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
target | Specifies the default browsing context to load the URL into. Only to be used when the href attribute is present.
Possible values:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
download | Indicates that the link is to be used for downloading a resource (such as a file). The author can specify a default file name by providing a value. This attribute is optional.
Value: [Default file name.] (optional) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
rel | Describes the relationship between the current document and the destination URI. Only to be used when the href attribute is present. Multiple values can be provided, separated by a space.
Possible values:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
rev | Reverse link relationship of the destination resource to this document (or subsection/topic). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
hreflang | Language code of the destination URL. Only to be used when the href attribute is present. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
type | Specifies the MIME type of the linked resource. Only to be used when the href attribute is present. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
referrerpolicy | Referrer policy for fetches initiated by the element. |
Global Attributes
The following attributes are standard across all HTML elements. Therefore, you can use these attributes with the <a>
tag , as well as with all other HTML tags.
accesskey
autocapitalize
class
contenteditable
data-*
dir
draggable
hidden
id
inputmode
is
itemid
itemprop
itemref
itemscope
itemtype
lang
part
slot
spellcheck
style
tabindex
title
translate
For a full explanation of these attributes, see HTML 5 global attributes.
Event Handlers
Event handler content attributes enable you to invoke a script from within your HTML. The script is invoked when a certain "event" occurs. Each event handler content attribute deals with a different event.
onabort
onauxclick
onblur
oncancel
oncanplay
oncanplaythrough
onchange
onclick
onclose
oncontextmenu
oncopy
oncuechange
oncut
ondblclick
ondrag
ondragend
ondragenter
ondragexit
ondragleave
ondragover
ondragstart
ondrop
ondurationchange
onemptied
onended
onerror
onfocus
onformdata
oninput
oninvalid
onkeydown
onkeypress
onkeyup
onlanguagechange
onload
onloadeddata
onloadedmetadata
onloadstart
onmousedown
onmouseenter
onmouseleave
onmousemove
onmouseout
onmouseover
onmouseup
onpaste
onpause
onplay
onplaying
onprogress
onratechange
onreset
onresize
onscroll
onsecuritypolicyviolation
onseeked
onseeking
onselect
onslotchange
onstalled
onsubmit
onsuspend
ontimeupdate
ontoggle
onvolumechange
onwaiting
onwheel
Most event handler content attributes can be used on all HTML elements, but some event handlers have specific rules around when they can be used and which elements they are applicable to.
For more detail, see HTML event handler content attributes.