HTML <a> Tag
The HTML <a> element specifies a link to a URL or a destination within the HTML content. The <a> element defines a hyperlink, which is used to connect two pages.
The href property, which identifies the destination of the link, is the most significant attribute of the <a> element.
In all browser, links will display as follows by default:
- An unvisited link is highlighted in blue.
- A visited link is highlighted in purple.
- An active link is displayed in red.
Syntax
Attributes
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| download | filename | When a user clicks on the hyperlink, the target will be downloaded. |
| href | URL | Specifies the URL of the page whereby the link leads. |
| hreflang | language-code | The language of the referenced document is specified. |
| media | media-query | Specifies the media/device for which the referenced document is optimized. |
| ping | list-of-URLs | The HTML ping Attribute is often used to define a specific URL or a collection of URLs that will be informed when the user clicks on the hyperlink supplied in the HTML href Attribute. |
| referrerpolicy |
no-referrer
no-referrer-when-downgrade origin origin-when-cross-origin same-origin strict-origin-when-cross-origin unsafe-url |
Specifies which referrer information should be sent along with the link. |
| rel |
alternate
author bookmark external help license next nofollow noreferrer noopener prev search tag |
Describes the connection between the current and related documents. |
| target |
_blank
_parent _self _top |
Specifies where the referenced document should be opened. |
| type | media-type | The media type of the referenced document is specified. |
Supported Browsers
| Element | Chrome | Firefox | Safari | Edge / IE | Opera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <a> | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |