Help Topics

Absolute vs. Relative Links

Absolute

• Example: <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com">Microsoft</A>
• They are external in relation to the source web page. (When you click on them, you "go away" from the current web site.)
• If you see "http" it's absolute.
• They link to another web site.
• They have a designated path that must be followed from beginning to end or they won't work.
• They can be typed into an address box and will work.

Relative

• Example: <A HREF="nomad.htm">click here</A>
• They are internal in relation to the source web page. (When you click on them, you stay in the current web site.)
• The files they reference reside in the same folder as the source web page.
• They are incomplete addresses and  cannot be typed into an address box and work.

Note: Quotes surround both types of links. The word "file" should not appear in either!