HTML <link> Tag

The HTML <link> tag represents a link to an external resource.

The <link> tag is often used for linking to an external style sheet, but it can also be used for other purposes such as assisting search engines by providing links to relevant resources, and providing information on the website's navigational structure, etc.

Although the <link> tag can be used to create what is referred to as a "hyperlink", it is not used for creating the "clickable" hyperlink that most web users are familiar with. To create such a link, use the <a> tag.

Syntax

The <link> tag is typically written as <link rel="" href=""> (no end tag). The rel attribute specifies the relationship between the document containing the hyperlink and the destination resource. The href attribute specifies the address of the hyperlink. See below under "Template" for other attributes that can be used with the <link> tag.

Like this:

Examples

Basic tag usage

The <link> tag can be placed either whereever metadata is expected or in a <noscript> element that is a child of a <head> element.

Here is a typical usage of the <link> element, which links to an external style sheet.

Attributes

Attributes can be added to an HTML element to provide more information about how the element should appear or behave.

The <link> element accepts the following attributes.

Attribute Description

href Specifies the URL of the resource document.

crossorigin

This attribute is a CORS settings attribute. CORS stands for Cross-Origin Resource Sharing. The purpose of the crossorigin attribute is to allow you to configure the CORS requests for the element's fetched data. The values for the crossorigin attribute are enumerated.

Possible values:

Value	Description
`anonymous`	Cross-origin CORS requests for the element will not have the credentials flag set. In other words, there will be no exchange of user credentials via cookies, client-side SSL certificates or HTTP authentication.
`use-credentials`	Cross-origin CORS requests for the element will have the credentials flag set.

If this attribute is not specified, CORS is not used at all.

An invalid keyword and an empty string will be handled as the anonymous value.

rel

Describes the relationship between the current document and the destination URI. Multiple values can be provided, separated by a space.

Possible values:

Value	Description
`alternate`	Gives alternate representations of the current document. For example, here is sample code (taken from the HTML5 specification) for giving the syndication feed for the current page: `<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" href="data.xml">`
`canonical`	Gives the preferred URL for the current document.
`author`	Gives a link to the current document's author.
`dns-prefetch`	Specifies that the user agent should preemptively perform DNS resolution for the target resource's origin.
`help`	Provides a link to context-sensitive help.
`icon`	Imports an icon to represent the current document.
`modulepreload`	Specifies that the user agent must preemptively fetch the module script and store it in the document's module map for later evaluation. Optionally, the module's dependencies can be fetched as well.
`license`	Indicates that the main content of the current document is covered by the copyright license described by the referenced document.
`next`	Indicates that the current document is a part of a series, and that the next document in the series is the referenced document.
`pingback`	Gives the address of the pingback server that handles pingbacks to the current document.
`preconnect`	Specifies that the user agent should preemptively connect to the target resource's origin.
`prefetch`	Specifies that the user agent should preemptively fetch and cache the target resource as it is likely to be required for a followup navigation.
`preload`	Specifies that the user agent must preemptively fetch and cache the target resource for current navigation according to the potential destination given by the as attribute (and the priority associated with the corresponding destination).
`prerender`	Specifies that the user agent should preemptively fetch the target resource and process it in a way that helps deliver a faster response in the future.
`prev`	Indicates that the current document is a part of a series, and that the previous document in the series is the referenced document.
`search`	Gives a link to a resource that can be used to search through the current document and its related pages.
`stylesheet`	Imports an external stylesheet.

rev Reverse link relationship of the destination resource to this document (or subsection/topic).

media

Specifies which media the target URL uses. Only to be used when the href attribute is present.

Value:

[The value must be a valid media query. The default value is all].

nonce Represents a cryptographic nonce ("number used once") which can be used by Content Security Policy to determine whether or not an external resource specified by the link will be loaded and applied to the document. The value is text.

hreflang Language code of the destination URL. Purely advisory. The value must be a valid RFC 3066 language code.

type The MIME type of content at the link destination. Purely advisory.

referrerpolicy Referrer policy for fetches initiated by the element.

sizes

Specifies the sizes of icons for visual media. Can be used for favicons. Multiple values can be provided, as long as they're separated by a space.

Examples:

sizes="16x16" (1 size)
sizes="16x16 32x32 64x64" (3 different sizes)
sizes="any" (any size)

Global Attributes

The following attributes are standard across all HTML elements. Therefore, you can use these attributes with the <link> 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.