Link
LINK provides a media independent method for defining
relationships with other documents and resources. LINK has
been part of HTML since the very early days, although few browsers as
yet take advantage of it (most still ignore LINK elements).
LINK elements can be used in principle:
- for document specific navigation toolbars or menus
- to control how collections of
HTML files are rendered into printed documents
- for linking associated resources such as
style sheets and scripts
- to provide alternative forms of the current document
- href
- Specifies a URL designating the linked resource.
- rel
- The forward relationship also known as the "link type". It specifies
a named relationship from the enclosing document to the resource
specified by the HREF attribute. HTML link relationships
are as yet unstandardized, although some conventions have been
established.
- rev
- This defines a reverse relationship. A link from document A to
document B with REV=relation expresses the same
relationship as a link from B to A with REL=relation.
REV=made is sometimes used to identify the document author,
either the author's email address with a mailto URL, or a link to the
author's home page.
- title
- An advisory title for the linked resource.
Here are some proposed relationship values:
- rel=top
- The link references the top of a hierarchy, e.g.
the first or cover page in a collection.
- rel=contents
- The link references a document serving as a table of contents.
- rel=index
- The link references a document providing an index
for the current document.
- rel=glossary
- The link references a document providing a glossary
of terms that are relevant to the current document.
- rel=copyright
- The link references a copyright statement for
the current document.
- rel=next
- The link references the next document to visit in a guided tour.
It can be used, for example, to preload the next page.
- rel=previous
- The link references the previous document in a guided tour.
- rel=help
- The link references a document offering help, e.g. describing
the wider context and offering further links to relevant documents.
This is aimed at reorienting users who have lost their way.
- rel=search
- The link references a page for searching material related
to a collection of pages
Example LINK elements:
<LINK REL=Contents HREF=toc.html>
<LINK REL=Previous HREF=doc31.html>
<LINK REL=Next HREF=doc33.html>
<LINK REL=Chapter REV=Contents HREF=chapter2.html>