Know and understand the function of an anchor

21 Website Authoring – Anchor Tags

What is an Anchor? 🔗

An anchor (<a>) is the link that lets users jump from one page or part of a page to another. Think of it as a *door* in a building – it opens to a new room (webpage) or a specific spot inside the same room (anchor link).

Key Attributes of <a> Tags

Attribute Purpose
href Specifies the destination URL or anchor name.
target Defines where to open the linked document (e.g., _blank for new tab).
title Provides extra information shown as a tooltip.
rel Describes the relationship between the current page and the linked page.
name Creates an anchor point that other links can jump to.
download Suggests that the target should be downloaded instead of displayed.

How to Use Anchors – Practical Examples

  1. Link to another webpage:

    <a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example</a>

  2. Open link in a new tab:

    <a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Open in new tab</a>

  3. Anchor link to a section on the same page:

    <h2 id="contact">Contact Us</h2>
    <a href="#contact">Go to Contact</a>

  4. Download a file:

    <a href="files/report.pdf" download>Download Report</a>

Exam Tips & Quick Checklist ✔️

  • Always include the href attribute – it’s the core of the anchor.
  • Use target="_blank" only when you really want a new tab; otherwise keep it default.
  • For internal page jumps, give the target element an id and link with #id.
  • Remember that rel="noopener" is good practice when using target="_blank" to improve security.
  • Check that the link text is descriptive – e.g., “Download the PDF” not just “Click here.”
  • In exam questions, identify which attribute you would use for each scenario.

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