What are Web Links?

Web links is a term that is most often associated with a hyperlink. Other terms that might be used instead of web link include hyperlink text or just the word link. Web links are essential to surfing the internet and navigating from one web page to another. A web link contains information that can help a computer server quickly navigate to the page the link leads to. This makes it extremely easy and efficient for a person to navigate from one page to another just by clicking on these special web links. A web link is comprised of two ends. These ends are called anchors. For instance, a web link will have a source anchor (where the web link starts and a destination anchor, where the web link navigates to.

Types of Web Links

Web links come in a variety of formats. The difference in these formats tends to be the various ways in which a web link can be accessed. Web links most commonly come in the formats of embedded links, hot areas or inline link. Here is some more information about each type.

Embedded Link

Embedded links are the links that most web users are familiar with. Embedded links are in text format. They are usually underlined and are a different color than the surrounding text. To activate an embedded link, you can simply place your mouse cursor over the embedded text link and click your mouse or hit enter. This will activate your browser to follow the embedded link to the new web page.

Hot Area

A hot area is technically an image map in HTML. For instance, many pictures or banners include a web link. The web link is not in one specific area, as it is on an embedded link, but throughout the entire image map (e.g. banner ad or picture). While embedded links are usually a different color or underlined, a hot area is usually invisible, however if you roll over the hot area with your mouse, most browsers will indicate that the area does link to a new web page.

Inline Link

An inline link is a web link that displays remote content without having the content embedded in the page. For instance, many retailers use imbedded links to fill their web page with images of merchandise. The images are not located on the actual web page, but are linked from a folder (usually on a computer server). Inline links make loading a web page usually faster and easier due to the smaller file sizes. It should be noted that inline links also make editing a web page layout less labor and time intensive.

The Importance of Web Links

Web links are one of the defining components of the internet and one of the main reasons for its success. It should be noted that most web links found on the web usually relate from one web site to another. With web links, you can easily find relevant information on a limitless amount of topics. Most web sites of one category or topic will usually link to other similar topics. For instance, a website on the topic of restoring cars will link to an engine web site. Practically every web page links to another creating a world wide web of information.