What a link is and why you'd create one

A link is text or an image that, when clicked, takes you to another webpage, document, or location on the same page. You create links when you want readers to jump to related information without typing a URL themselves. Links appear underlined and usually in blue, though the styling can change depending on the website or document.

You might create a link to direct someone to your business website from an email, to reference a source in a blog post, to let readers jump between sections of a long document, or to connect related pages on your own site. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're working in a word processor, email, or website builder.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most email programs, you highlight text, right-click, and select "Link" or use Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) to open the link dialog.
  • The two pieces a link needs are the visible text (what readers see) and the destination URL (where the link goes when clicked).
  • Links to external websites must include the full URL starting with http:// or https://, while links within the same document use anchor points or heading names.
  • You can link to a specific section of a webpage if that page has headings or anchor points, not just to the homepage.
  • After creating a link, test it by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and clicking, or right-click and select "Open Link" to confirm it goes where you intended.

Creating a link in Microsoft Word

Open your document and highlight the text you want to turn into a link. For example, if you write "Read our privacy policy," select those five words. Then press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A dialog box labeled "Insert Hyperlink" will open.

In the "Address" field at the bottom, type or paste the full URL where you want the link to go. If you're linking to a website, include http:// or https:// at the start—for example, https://www.example.com. If you're linking to another file on your computer, click "Browse" and select the file instead. Click "OK" and the text will now appear as a link, usually underlined and blue.

To link to a specific section within the same document, press Ctrl+K, then click "Place in This Document" on the left side of the dialog. Select the heading or bookmark you want to link to from the list that appears.

Creating a link in Google Docs

Highlight the text you want to link, then press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A small box will appear with a text field. Type or paste the URL you want to link to, including https:// at the start. Press Enter and the link is created.

To link to a heading within the same Google Doc, highlight your text and press Ctrl+K. Instead of typing a URL, start typing the heading name—Google Docs will show you a dropdown list of headings in the document. Click the heading you want and the link will point to that section.

If you need to edit or remove a link later, click on the linked text, and a small toolbar will appear. You can click the pencil icon to edit the URL or the X icon to remove the link entirely.

Creating a link in email

Most email programs—Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail—work the same way. Highlight the text you want to turn into a link, then right-click and select "Link" or use Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac). A dialog will open asking for the URL. Type the full web address starting with https://, then click "OK" or "Insert."

In Gmail specifically, you can also click the link icon in the toolbar at the bottom of the compose window, paste your URL, and then click "Apply." The link will be added to whatever text you had selected.

Creating a link on a website or blog

If you're using a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, the process depends on your editor. Most have a link button in the toolbar—it usually looks like a chain link icon. Highlight the text you want to link, click the link button, and paste the URL into the field that appears.

If you're editing HTML directly, you'll use an anchor tag. The format is: <a href="https://www.example.com">Click here</a>. Replace the URL with your destination and the text between the tags with what you want readers to see.

For links within your own site, you can use a relative URL instead of the full web address. For example, if you're on your homepage and want to link to a page called "about.html" in the same folder, you can write <a href="about.html">About Us</a> instead of the full URL.

Linking to a specific section of a webpage

You don't have to link only to a website's homepage. If a page has clear headings or section titles, you can link directly to that section. The method depends on whether you control the destination page.

If you're linking to someone else's website, look at the URL when you scroll to the section you want. Some websites add an anchor—a # symbol followed by a word—to the end of the URL when you land on a specific section. For example, a Wikipedia article on climate change might show https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change#Causes when you click on the "Causes" heading. Copy that full URL, including the # part, and use it as your link destination.

If the page doesn't show an anchor in the URL, you can still try adding one manually. Right-click on the heading you want to link to, select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element," and look for an id attribute in the code. If you find one, you can add it to the URL like this: https://www.example.com/page#section-name. Not all websites set these up, so this method doesn't always work.

Testing your link before sharing

After you create a link, always test it before you send the document or publish the page. In most programs, you can hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click the link to open it. Alternatively, right-click on the link and select "Open Link" or "Open Hyperlink."

Check that the page that opens is actually where you intended to send readers. If you typed the URL by hand, a small typo can send someone to the wrong place or a 404 error page. If you're linking to a document on your computer, make sure the file still exists and hasn't been moved or renamed—links to files break if the file location changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color or style of a link?

Yes, but it depends on where the link is. In Word and Google Docs, right-click the link and look for formatting options. On a website, you can change link colors using CSS (a styling language). In email, most programs don't let you change link color—they use the default blue to keep links recognizable.

What's the difference between http and https?

HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP. When you visit a website with https://, your connection is encrypted, which protects your data. Always use https:// when linking to websites that ask for passwords, payment information, or personal data. Most modern websites use https by default.

Can I link to a PDF or other file type?

Yes. If the file is on the internet, use its full URL just like any other link. If it's on your computer, use the "Browse" option in the link dialog to select the file. Keep in mind that links to files on your computer only work for people who have access to that same file location—they won't work if you email the document to someone else.

Why does my link show the URL instead of the text I wanted?

This usually means the link wasn't created correctly. Delete the link, highlight your text again, and use Ctrl+K or Cmd+K to open the link dialog. Make sure you're pasting the URL in the address field, not in the text field. The text field is for what readers see; the address field is for where the link goes.

How do I remove a link without deleting the text?

Right-click on the link and select "Remove Link" or "Delete Link." The text will stay in your document, but it will no longer be clickable. In Google Docs, click the link and click the X icon in the toolbar that appears.