Creating links is essential for any website, since they allow effective navigation and structuring of information on the Internet. The label <a> HTML is the essential tool we use for this purpose. In this article I will teach you how to master the art of creating and managing links using this versatile tag.
What is the a Tag in HTML?
The label <a>, known as the "anchor", is one of the most important elements in creating web pages. Through it, users can navigate from one page to another, within the same site or to external resources. Its basic structure is the following:
<a href="/en/url/">Link text</a>The attribute href (Hypertext REFerence) is the one that indicates the destination URL of the link. "Link Text" is what users will see and click on.
Creating Internal and External Links
There are two main types of links you can create with the tag <a>: internal and external. Internal links point to pages or resources within the same domain, while external links link to pages on other websites.
Internal Links
Internal links are essential for keeping users on your site and improving usability. To create an internal link, simply write the relative or absolute path to the destination page in the attribute href. Here is an example that points to the contact page of our blog:
<a href="https://nelkodev.com/en/contact/">Contact us</a>External links
To link to an external site, include the full URL in the attribute href. It is recommended that external links open in a new browser tab, and this is achieved by adding the attribute target="_blank". Here I show you how to do it:
<a href="https://otro-sitio.com" target="_blank">Visit another site</a>Using Anchors with Label a
Anchors are not only used to link pages, you can also use them to create links to different sections of the same page. For this, you need a unique identifier (attribute id) on the element you want to link to. Then you use that id with a pound symbol (#) in your link. For example:
<!-- Sección en alguna parte de tu página -->
<h2 id="seccion1">Section 1</h2>
...
<!-- En algún otro lugar de la misma página -->
<a href="#seccion1">Go to Section 1</a>Improving Accessibility with the title Attribute
The attribute title can be added to any link to provide additional information about the link's destination. It's particularly useful for people who use screen readers:
<a href="https://nelkodev.com/en/" title="Visit the NelkoDev home">Start</a>Styles and States of Links with CSS
Links don't have to be boring. You can use CSS to style them and improve the visual experience of your visitors. Here is a basic example of how to change the color of the links in their different states:
a:link { color: blue; /* Color of unvisited links */ } a:visited { color: purple; /* Color of visited links */ } a:hover { color: red; /* Hover color */ } a:active { color: yellow; /* Color on click */ }Security and Attributes noopener and noreferrer
When you use target="_blank" In a link, it is advisable to also include the attributes rel="noopener noreferrer". This prevents certain security vulnerabilities and ensures that the linked site cannot access the window.opener of your page.
<a href="https://externo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">External site</a>Links and SEO: Best Practices
Good link management also influences the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of your page. Use descriptive and relevant text for your links, avoiding phrases like "click here." This helps search engines better understand your content and contributes to a better user experience.
Conclusion
Creating and managing links is an essential skill in web development. The label <a> offers the flexibility to connect internal resources, jump to specific sections or open new worlds with external links. Don't forget to make your links accessible, attractive and secure for all your users.
Practicing link creation and management will not only make you a better web developer, but will also enrich the navigability and quality of your website. So start your engines and start linking!
If you have any questions or want to share your experiences with the tag <a>, feel free to leave us a comment in the contact section of our site. Remember that in NelkoDev We are here to help you develop your digital skills and projects. See you on the net!
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