Tags
<!-->
<!DOCTYPE>
<a>
<abbr>
<acronym>
<address>
<applet>
<area>
<b>
<base>
<basefont>
<bdo>
<big>
<blockquote>
<body>
<br>
<button>
<caption>
<center>
<cite>
<code>
<col>
<colgroup>
<dd>
<del>
<dfn>
<dir>
<div>
<dl>
<dt>
<em>
<fieldset>
<font>
<form>
<frame>
<frameset>
<head>
<h1> - <h6>
<hr>
<html>
<i>
<iframe>
<img>
<input>
<ins>
<kbd>
<label>
<legend>
<li>
<link>
<map>
<menu>
<meta>
<noframes>
<noscript>
<object>
<ol>
<optgroup>
<option>
<p>
<param>
<pre>
<q>
<s>
<samp>
<script>
<select>
<small>
<span>
<strike>
<strong>
<style>
<sub>
<sup>
<table>
<tbody>
<td>
<textarea>
<tfoot>
<th>
<thead>
<title>
<tr>
<tt>
<u>
<ul>
<var>

Standard
Attributes
Events

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The <a> tag

Definition and Usage

The <a> tag defines an anchor element. An anchor can be used in two ways:

  1. To create a link to another document by using the href attribute
  2. To create a bookmark inside a document, by using the name or id attribute

Differences Between HTML and XHTML

NONE

Tips and Notes

Note: A linked page is normally displayed in the current browser window, unless you specify another target.

Example

Source Output

<p>Linking to W3Schools:
<a href="http://www.w3schools.com">
W3Schools</a>
</p>

<p>
Opening W3Schools a new browser window:
<a href="http://www.w3schools.com"
target="_blank">W3Schools</a>
</p>

Linking to W3Schools: W3Schools

Opening W3Schools a new browser window: W3Schools


Optional Attributes

DTD indicates in which DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

Attribute Value Description DTD
charset character_encoding Specifies the character encoding of the target URL STF
coords

if shape="rect" then
coords="left,top,right,bottom"

if shape="circ" then
coords="centerx,centery,radius"

if shape="poly" then
coords="x1,y1,x2,y2,..,xn,yn"

 Specifies the coordinates appropriate to the shape attribute to define a region of an image for image maps STF
href URL The target URL of the link STF
hreflang language_code Specifies the base language of the target URL STF
name section_name Names an anchor. Use this attribute to create a bookmark in a document.

In future versions of XHTML the name attribute will be replaced by the id attribute!!

 STF
rel alternate
designates
stylesheet
start
next
prev
contents
index
glossary
copyright
chapter
section
subsection
appendix
help
bookmark		 Specifies the relationship between the current document and the target URL STF
rev alternate
designates
stylesheet
start
next
prev
contents
index
glossary
copyright
chapter
section
subsection
appendix
help
bookmark		 Specifies the relationship between the target URL and the current document STF
shape rect
rectangle
circ
circle
poly
polygon		 Defines the type of region to be defined for mapping in the current area tag. Used with the coords attribute. STF
target _blank
_parent
_self
_top

Where to open the target URL.

  • _blank - the target URL will open in a new window
  • _self - the target URL will open in the same frame as it was clicked
  • _parent - the target URL will open in the parent frameset
  • _top - the target URL will open in the full body of the window
 TF
type mime_type Specifies the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type of the target URL STF

Standard Attributes

id, class, title, style, dir, lang, xml:lang, tabindex, accesskey

For a full description, go to Standard Attributes.

Event Attributes

onfocus, onblur, onclick, ondblclick, onmousedown, onmouseup, onmouseover, onmousemove, onmouseout, onkeypress, onkeydown, onkeyup

For a full description, go to Event Attributes.