A link is text or an image you click to jump to another page or file

A link is the clickable part of a webpage that takes you somewhere else when you click it. That somewhere else might be another page on the same website, a completely different website, an email address, a file to download, or even a specific spot further down the page you're already reading. Links are how the internet connects things together.

When you see text that's underlined and colored differently — usually blue — that's almost always a link. But links can also be hidden inside buttons, images, or even plain-looking text. The easiest way to tell if something is a link is to move your mouse over it. If the cursor changes to a pointing hand, you've found a link.

Links work because of something called a URL (web address) hidden behind the visible text. When you click the link, your browser reads that hidden address and takes you there. The text you see is just the label — the actual destination is stored underneath.

Key Takeaways

  • Links are clickable elements that take you to another webpage, file, or location when you click them, and they're usually blue and underlined.
  • The text you see in a link is just a label; the actual web address is hidden behind it and determines where you go.
  • You can right-click a link to see where it actually goes before you click it, which helps you avoid clicking something by accident.
  • Links can point to websites, email addresses, downloadable files, or even specific sections within the same page.
  • Broken links happen when the page they point to no longer exists, and there's nothing you can do except tell the website owner.

The difference between text links and button links

Text links are the most common type. They're usually blue and underlined, and they blend into the sentences around them. When you hover your mouse over them, the cursor turns into a pointing hand. These links work exactly the same way as any other link — you click and go somewhere.

Button links look like buttons. They might say "Click Here" or "Learn More" and often have a background color or border to make them stand out. Underneath, they work the same way as text links — they're just styled to look more like a button. Some websites use buttons because they're easier to click on a phone, or because they want the link to stand out more.

Image links are pictures you can click on. The image itself is the clickable part. You might see a logo that takes you to the home page, or a thumbnail photo that opens a larger version. The cursor will still change to a pointing hand when you hover over it, so you'll know it's clickable.

How to tell where a link actually goes

Before you click a link, you can see where it points without actually going there. Move your mouse over the link and look at the very bottom left corner of your browser window. A small bar will appear showing the web address (URL) that link points to. This is useful when you're not sure if a link is safe or if it goes where the text says it goes.

On a phone or tablet, you can press and hold a link for a second or two, and a menu will pop up showing you the address. This works the same way as the bottom-left corner trick on a computer.

You can also right-click a link on a computer (or press and hold on a phone) and choose "Copy link address" or similar. Then you can paste it somewhere to see the full address. This is especially useful if the link text is misleading or if you want to check whether a link is real before clicking it.

Internal links versus external links

An internal link takes you to another page on the same website. If you're reading an article on a news site and you click a link that takes you to another article on that same news site, that's an internal link. These links usually don't show the full web address in the text — they might just say "Read more" or "Related story."

An external link takes you to a different website entirely. If you're on a news site and you click a link that takes you to Wikipedia or another website, that's an external link. External links often show more of the web address, or the text makes it clear you're leaving the current site.

Some websites mark external links with a small icon (often a tiny arrow pointing up and to the right) so you know you're about to leave. This is helpful because it sets expectations — you know the page will change and you might need to use the back button to return.

What happens when a link is broken

A broken link is a link that points to a page that no longer exists. This happens when a website removes or moves a page but doesn't update the links pointing to it. When you click a broken link, you'll usually see an error message that says something like "404 Not Found" or "This page doesn't exist."

Broken links are not your fault, and there's nothing you can do to fix them from your end. The website owner needs to either restore the page, move it back, or update the link to point somewhere else. If you find a broken link on a website, you can sometimes report it using a "Contact Us" form, but many website owners don't fix them right away.

If you're trying to find information that was on a broken link, try searching for it using Google or another search engine. You might also try the Wayback Machine (archive.org), which stores snapshots of old webpages. Type the broken link's address into the Wayback Machine and it might show you what the page looked like before it disappeared.

Special types of links: email and downloads

An email link opens your email program when you click it. These links start with "mailto:" and usually just say something like "Contact us" or show an email address. When you click one, your computer opens whatever email program you have set up (like Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail) and creates a new message to that address. You still have to type and send the email yourself — the link just opens the blank message.

A download link downloads a file to your computer instead of taking you to a webpage. These might be PDFs, images, software installers, or documents. When you click a download link, your browser usually asks you where you want to save the file, or it automatically saves it to your Downloads folder. The link doesn't take you anywhere — it just brings a file to your computer.

Some download links start automatically without asking you where to save. If this happens and you're not sure what was downloaded, check your Downloads folder. On Windows, that's usually in your user folder under Downloads. On a Mac, look in the Downloads folder in your dock or Finder.

Anchor links that jump to sections on the same page

Some links don't take you to a different page at all — they jump to a different section of the page you're already reading. These are called anchor links or jump links. You'll often see them in a table of contents at the top of a long article. Click one and the page scrolls down to that section automatically.

Anchor links are useful on long pages because they let you skip to the part you care about without scrolling manually. They work by pointing to a specific spot on the page that the website creator marked with an invisible label. When you click the link, your browser finds that label and jumps straight to it.

You can tell an anchor link by looking at the web address when you hover over it. Instead of pointing to a different page, it will show the current page's address with a # symbol and a word after it — like "www.example.com/article#section2". That word after the # tells the browser which section to jump to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to click links from people I don't know?

Not always. Links can point to websites with malware, phishing scams, or other harmful content. Before clicking a link from an email, text message, or social media post, check where it actually goes by hovering over it. If the address looks suspicious or doesn't match what the text says, don't click it. When in doubt, go directly to the official website instead of clicking a link.

What does it mean when a link opens in a new tab?

Some links are set up to open in a new tab or window instead of replacing the current page. This happens when the website creator wanted you to keep reading the original page while also opening the new link. You can also force any link to open in a new tab by right-clicking it and choosing "Open in new tab," or by holding Ctrl (or Command on Mac) while clicking.

Can I undo clicking a link I didn't mean to click?

Yes. Use the back button in your browser (usually an arrow pointing left at the top left of the window) to go back to the previous page. On a keyboard, you can also press Alt+Left Arrow on Windows or Command+Left Arrow on Mac. This works as long as you haven't closed the tab or window.

Why do some links change color after I click them?

Websites change the color of visited links so you can see which pages you've already been to. A link you haven't clicked yet might be blue, but after you click it, it turns purple or another color. This is just a visual reminder and doesn't affect how the link works. The color resets if you clear your browser history.

What's the difference between a link and a shortcut?

A link takes you somewhere on the internet when you click it. A shortcut is a small file on your computer that opens a program or file when you double-click it. Links are part of webpages; shortcuts are files on your computer. They work completely differently, even though they both take you somewhere when you click them.