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If the <a> element has an href attribute, then it represents a hyperlink.

If the <a> element has a name attribute, it serves as an anchor, so that a hyperlink can lead to a specific place in a html page.

The target attribute specifies if the link will open in the same window, or a new one. If frames are used, those can be the target too.

SVG also defines its own <a> element which has a similar purpose.

Usage

<a href="/">home</a>
<a name="navbar"></a>
<a href="#navbar">navigation</a>
<a href="example.com" target="_blank">somewhere</a>

Attributes

Common attributes:

• href
• name
• target

Other attributes:

• charset
• coords
• disabled
• hreflang
• media
• methods
• ping
• rel
• rev
• shape
• suppress
• type
• urn

Browser compatibility

Compatibility table legend

Further reading

• The <a> element in HTML 5
• The <a> element in HTML 4
• The <a> element on MSDN
• History of the <a> element on blooberry.com
• The <a> element on the SitePoint HTML Reference