Using Links to Enhance Your Web Page
What Are Links??
A "link" or hypertext link, is a point in a web page that can take you to different, usually related site on the internet simply by clicking on it. Links can make your web page more attractive to users because of their "surfability" that keeps the user interested and on your site.
Links can be as simple as "Go to top of Page" and as complex as linking a .jpeg file image to a far away site. External links are the form that takes out of the particular web site and on to a new one. Internal links take the user to another point within the page. Internal links can be as basic as "Go Home".
We will look at each one. More importantly, how to tag the HTML code to make them work.
External Links
External links can be very useful in a web page. You can link your page to existing pages that give the information you would like to share with the eyes in front of the web browser. Instead of reinventing the wheel, you can use other sources to support or supplement your own ideas. this will cut down on your time coding and give the user more sources of information at the click of a button.
An example would be of a web page about dogs linking to The American Kennel Assosciations home page. This would give the user another source of information that would support your page.
Simple Links
Simple links can help a user navigate your web site by taking them to specified points within the same web page. As stated before, this creates better "surfability", or keeps the user within your web site. You can link to related information, the home page, a table or even an image.
How to Use a Link
Using a link is very tedious indeed. The user expects that all links are going to work and can be easily turned off of your page if not.
Here is a simple checklist of what to consider when using a link:
- Be sure that the tags are all correct.
- Double check the URL of the linked site.
- For proper "netiquette", be sure that you are linked to relevant topic or subject.
- You are responsible for continually updating your links. Some sites may disappear or relocate.
- You should continually check your existing links.
Tagging an External Link
The most important aspect of a link is that it works. The only way to make a link work is to be sure the tagging is done correctly. Always check the URL or internal reference point of the link and use the link yourself to be absolutely sure.
Links need to be referenced to a location. You must use the "A" tag (or anchor tag) when using a simple link within a page. The anchor tag is where the link will be located on your page. Then you must use the "HREF=" tag to name the destination of your link. Also, remember the greater than, less than symbols to enclose the tag and to put the destination URL in quotes. There must be an "/A" tag at the end of the destination URL for the link to perform successfully.
Here's an example
Chicago city CollegesTagging a Simple/Internal Link
Tagging a simple link is a little bit different than tagging an external link. Your anchor point is going to be determined within the page that the link is occuring. therefore we use a "#" to designate the point on the page that you will link to. the "#" symbol is followed by a reference name that is also given at the point of the link. the link is then named between a Less than and Equals to symbols. this nmae will be what appears on the browser and should be somewhat descriptive of where the link will take the user.There must be an "/A" tag at the end of the destination URL for the link to perform successfully.
