HTML 5 <a> Tag
Example
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View it » |
Definition and Usage
The <a> tag defines a hyperlink, which is used to link from one page to
another.
The most important attribute of the a element is the href attribute, which
indicates the link’s destination.
By default, links will appear as follows in all browsers:
- An unvisited link is underlined and blue
- A visited link is underlined and purple
- An active link is underlined and red
Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML 5
In HTML 4.01, the <a> tag could be either a hyperlink or an anchor. This was
determined by the href attribute.
In HTML 5, the <a> tag is always a hyperlink, but if it has no href attribute, it is
only a placeholder for a hyperlink.
HTML 5 has some new attributes, and some HTML 4.01 attributes are not supported in HTML 5.
Tips and Notes
Tip: The attributes: hreflang, media, ping, rel, target, and type attributes can not be present if the href attribute is not present.
Tip: A linked page is normally displayed in the current browser
window, unless you specify another target.
Tip: Use CSS to style links.
Attributes
New : New in HTML 5.
| Attribute |
Value |
Description |
| charset |
char_encoding |
Not supported in HTML 5 |
| coords |
coordinates |
Not supported in HTML 5. |
| href |
URL |
The target URL of the link |
| hreflang |
language_code |
Specifies the base language of the target URL. Use only if
the href attribute is present |
| media New |
media query |
Specifies the mediatype of the target URL. Default value:
all. Use only if the href attribute is present |
| name |
section_name |
Not supported in HTML 5. |
| ping New |
URL |
Space separated list of URL's that gets notified when a user follows the
hyperlink. Use only if the href attribute is present |
| rel |
alternate
archives
author
bookmark
contact
external
first
help
icon
index
last
license
next
nofollow
noreferrer
pingback
prefetch
prev
search
stylesheet
sidebar
tag
up |
Specifies the relationship between the current document and the target URL.
Use only if the href attribute is present |
| rev |
text |
Not supported in HTML 5. |
| shape |
default
rect
circle
poly |
Not supported in HTML 5. |
| target |
_blank
_parent
_self
_top |
Where to open the target URL. Use only if the href
attribute is present
- _blank - the target URL will open in a new window
- _self - the target URL will open in the same document as it was clicked
- _parent - the target URL will open in the parent document
- _top - the target URL will open in the full body of the window
|
| type New |
mime_type |
Specifies the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type of the target URL.
Use only if the href attribute is present |
Standard Attributes
The <a> tag also supports the Standard Attributes in HTML 5.
Event Attributes
The <a> tag also supports the Event Attributes
in HTML 5.
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