HTML <a> Tag

Last Updated on July 3, 2023 by Roshan Parihar

HTML <a> tag is used to place hyperlinks inside web pages. The HTML anchor tag is useful to link pages and move users from one page to another page.

Output

Open TutorialDeep website.

The syntax of the <a> tag in HTML 5 is given below:

The above syntax shows the <a> tag with href attribute which is mostly used attribute in anchor links.

Description of HTML anchor tag

It can be used to add hyperlinks in web pages. When users clicks the hyperlinks links, it moves them from one document to another.

By default, the anchor links will appear in every browsers as given below:-

• An unvisited link is underlined by default and blue in color.
• A visited link is underlined and purple in color.
• An active link is underlined and red in color.

However, you can change the default appearance of the anchor link using CSS.

Specifications of HTML <a>:

Start Tag	<a>
End Tag	</a>
Content Type	URL, text

Attributes of HTML anchor tag

HTML anchor Tag Specific Attributes

Attribute Name	Value	Description
download	filename	Add this attribute to allow users download the resource directly without visiting to it on link click.
href	URL	Specify the location of the web page to visit on link click.
hreflang	language-code	Add the attribute in addition with the href attribute to specify the language of the linked document. It cannot be used without the href attribute.
media	media-query	Specify the device for which the linked document is optimized.
ping	list-of-urls	Add space separated list of URLs. When the link is followed, the browser will send the post request with the body ping to the URL. Typically for tracking purpose.
rel	alternate author bookmark external help license next nofollow noreferrer prefetch prev search tag	Add space separated list of URLs. When the link is followed, the browser will send the post request with the body ping to the URL. Typically for tracking purpose.
target	_blank _parent _self _top	Add space separated list of URLs. When the link is followed, the browser will send the post request with the body ping to the URL. Typically for tracking purpose.
type	media-type	Specify the media type of the linked document.

Global Attributes

The <a> tag supports the global attributes in HTML 5.

Events Attributes

The <a> tag supports the event attributes in HTML 5.

Absolute and Relative URLs in HTML anchor tag

Absolute URL in Hyperlink

An absolute web address is an address inside href attribute of anchor tag given by full website url.

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Relative URL in Hyperlink

A relative web address is a address point to the same website.

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Useful HTML <a> Tag Examples

Open Link in New Browser Tab

To open the links in new tab, use the target="_blank" in the <a> tag as given below.

Output

It can be useful to open external links to outer website.

Link to Email Address to Send Emails

Add email address to hyerlink using attribute with value as href="mailto:[email protected]" to send email on link click. Change the email address with your email address.

Output

When users click the link, it opens default mail client of operating system. Users can create a new email and send it to the mentioned email address within the href attribute.

Resource Download on Link Click

If you want place download resource link for users, place the resource destination URL in the href attribute and add attribute download.

Output

Link to Telephone Number

To link to telephone number, place the number inside the href attribute as given below.

Output

When the users click the link with number, it opens the number calling application on your operating system to make calls.

Mobile phones can mak automated calls when users clicks on the link to number. Desktop and Laptop can make call using applications like Skype.

Link to Section of the Same Page

To visit the section within a pages, place the id of the section inside the href attribute as given below.

Supported Browsers

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Internet Explorer
• Safari
• Firefox
• Opera