External Links
External links, also known as "outbound links," are hyperlinks that connect your website to other websites or web resources. They provide a way for users to access content beyond your website, such as reference material, external sources, or partner websites. External links use the anchor tag, <a>, just like internal links, but the href attribute points to a location outside your website. Here's how to create and use external links effectively:
Creating External Links
To create an external link, you specify the URL of the external website or resource in the href attribute. The URL can be an absolute URL (starting with "http://" or "https://") or a relative URL (starting with "/", typically used for linking to other websites within your domain):
<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example Website</a>
In this example, the link points to "https://www.example.com."
Opening Links in a New Tab
You can specify that external links open in a new browser tab or window by using the target attribute with the value "_blank":
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example Website in a New Tab</a>
When a user clicks this link, it will open the external website in a new tab, keeping your website open in the original tab.
Linking to Email Addresses
You can also create links that open the user's email client to compose a new email. To do this, use the mailto protocol in the href attribute, followed by the email address:
<a href="mailto:contact@example.com">Contact Us</a>
Clicking this link will open the user's default email application with the "To" field pre-filled with the email address.
Styling External Links
External links can be styled with CSS to change their appearance, such as text color, underlines, and hover effects:
<!-- HTML -->
<a href="https://www.example.com" class="custom-link">Visit Example Website</a>
<!-- CSS -->
<style>
.custom-link {
color: #0077b6; /* Set link text color */
text-decoration: none; /* Remove underlines */
}
.custom-link:hover {
text-decoration: underline; /* Add underline on hover */
}
</style>
Accessibility Considerations
When creating external links, ensure that the link text is descriptive and indicates that it leads to an external website. This helps users understand where the link will take them. Also, maintain proper document structure to ensure accessibility for users with disabilities.
In summary, external links are a fundamental part of web content, allowing users to access information and resources beyond your website. They enhance the user experience and provide valuable connections to other web content.