Linkoutoimintoja

Linkoutoimintoja is a Finnish term used in information systems to describe a set of operations or features that produce outbound links from a local interface to external resources. The term combines linkout, an English loanword common in library and information science, with toimintoja, the Finnish plural of toiminto meaning functions or operations. In practice, linkoutoimintoja appear in library catalogs, scholarly portals, content management systems and patient portals, where a user is presented with links that take them to publisher sites, full-text repositories, databases, or supplier pages.

They can be user-initiated, such as clicking a link labeled "Open full text" or "View document," or automated, such as a contextual link resolver that fetches relevant external records based on metadata. Effective linkout functionality relies on reliable metadata (DOIs, URLs, persistent identifiers), and on mechanisms to handle authentication, licensing, and access rights. It also requires attention to accessibility and link maintenance to prevent broken redirects.

Related concepts include link resolvers (OpenURL-based), persistent identifiers, and DOI-based linking, as well as general web navigation design. The term is most commonly encountered in Finnish library and information science contexts, where institutions discuss integration of external resources with internal catalogs and portals. While not universally standardized, linkoutoimintoja are a practical tool for expanding access and connecting users with complementary materials beyond a local collection.