The Complete Guide to HTML Links in Simple Words 2025 – Links are the backbone of the internet. They help users navigate from one webpage to another with just a click. In this guide, we will explore everything about HTML links in simple, everyday language.
What is an HTML Link?
An HTML link, also called a hyperlink, connects one webpage to another. Clicking on a link takes you to a new page or resource. Links can point to:
- Other web pages
- Files (PDFs, images, videos)
- Email addresses
- Sections within the same page
Example of a Simple Link:
<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example Website</a>
This will display as: Visit Example Website
The <a> Tag Explained
The <a> tag (short for “anchor”) is used to create links. It requires the href attribute, which specifies the link destination.
Example:
<a href="https://www.google.com">Go to Google</a>
Different Types of Links
a) Linking to Another Website
<a href="https://www.wikipedia.org">Visit Wikipedia</a>
b) Linking to a Page in the Same Website
<a href="about.html">About Us</a>
This assumes about.html is in the same directory as the current webpage.
c) Linking to a Section on the Same Page
You can link to a specific part of a webpage using an id.
<a href="#contact">Go to Contact Section</a>
...
<h2 id="contact">Contact Us</h2>
Clicking the link will jump to the “Contact Us” section.
d) Opening Links in a New Tab
Use target="_blank" to open a link in a new tab.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com" target="_blank">Open YouTube</a>
Email Links
You can create a link that opens an email application.
<a href="mailto:example@email.com">Send an Email</a>
Clicking this will open the user’s email app with a pre-filled recipient.
Phone Number Links
You can make clickable phone numbers for mobile users.
<a href="tel:+1234567890">Call Us</a>
This will open the phone’s dialer with the number ready to call.
Adding a Download Link
Use the download attribute to allow users to download a file.
<a href="file.pdf" download>Download PDF</a>
This will download file.pdf when clicked.
Styling Links with CSS
You can style links using CSS to change colors, remove underlines, or add hover effects.
Changing Link Color:
a {
color: blue;
}
Removing Underline:
a {
text-decoration: none;
}
Changing Color on Hover:
a:hover {
color: red;
}
Making a Button-Like Link
You can style a link to look like a button.
<a href="https://www.example.com" style="background-color: blue; color: white; padding: 10px 20px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px;">Click Me</a>
Image as a Link
Instead of text, you can use an image as a link.
<a href="https://www.example.com">
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Clickable Image" width="200">
</a>
Clicking the image will take the user to example.com.
Broken Links and How to Avoid Them
A broken link leads to a non-existent page (404 error). To avoid broken links:
- Always check if the destination URL is correct.
- Use relative paths for internal links.
- Regularly update links on your website.
How to Make an HTML Link?
Creating a link is easy. You need to use the <a> tag with the href attribute, which specifies the destination.
Example:
<a href="https://www.example.com">Click here to visit Example</a>
How to Link HTML Pages Together?
If you want to link one page to another within your website, you can use relative links.
Example:
<a href="about.html">About Us</a>
This assumes that about.html is in the same folder as the current page.
How to Make a Link Open in a New Tab?
To open a link in a new tab, use the target="_blank" attribute.
Example:
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Open in New Tab</a>
How to Remove Underline from Links?
By default, links are underlined. You can remove the underline using CSS.
Example:
<a href="#" style="text-decoration: none;">No Underline Link</a>
How to Change Link Color in HTML?
You can change link colors using CSS.
Example:
<a href="#" style="color: red;">Red Link</a>
How to Link a JavaScript File to HTML?
To add JavaScript to your webpage, link the .js file using the <script> tag inside <head> or before </body>.
Example:
<script src="script.js"></script>
How to Link an External CSS File to HTML?
To style your webpage using an external CSS file, link it using the <link> tag inside <head>.
Example:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
How to Create an Email Link in HTML?
You can make an email link using mailto: in the href attribute.
Example:
<a href="mailto:someone@example.com">Send Email</a>
What is a Dead Link?
A dead link is a broken link that leads to a non-existing webpage, often resulting in a 404 error.
How to Link a Button to Another Page in HTML?
Use the <a> tag inside a button.
Example:
<button onclick="location.href='page.html'">Go to Page</button>
How to Attach a Link to Text in HTML?
Simply wrap the text inside the <a> tag.
Example:
<a href="page.html">Go to Page</a>
How to Link an Image in HTML?
Use an <a> tag around an <img> tag.
Example:
<a href="page.html"><img src="image.jpg" alt="Clickable Image"></a>
The Complete Guide to HTML Links in Simple Words 2025 – FAQs
1. Can I make a link without href?
Yes, but it won’t be clickable. Example:<a>Unclickable Link</a>
2. How to disable a link?
Use pointer-events: none; in CSS.a.disabled { pointer-events: none; color: gray; }<a href="#" class="disabled">Disabled Link</a>
3. What is the difference between absolute and relative links?
Absolute Link: Full URL (e.g., https://www.example.com/page.html)
Relative Link: Short URL based on the current location (e.g., page.html)
Summary
HTML links help users navigate websites easily. By understanding different types of links, attributes, and styling methods, you can improve user experience on your website. Try these techniques and make your links more interactive and user-friendly!