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Hyperlink, also known as an anchor or web link, is a reference in a digital document that points to another location, either within the same document or on a different server. The term originates from the combination of “hypertext” and “link”, reflecting its role in linking separate pieces of hypertext. Hyperlinks are most commonly seen in the form of clickable text or images and are integral to the functionality of the World Wide Web.

A hyperlink is defined by an <a> element in HTML, where the href attribute holds the target URL. The target can be an absolute address, a relative path, or a fragment identifier that directs the browser to a specific section of a page. The behavior of hyperlinks is managed by the client’s web browser, which processes the URL and retrieves the referenced resource. Hyperlinks may also be used to trigger email clients, telephone calls, or other protocol handlers using schemes such as mailto: or tel:.

Historically, the first web hypertext system was built at CERN in the early 1990s. Tim Berners-Lee introduced the concept of the hyperlink as a fundamental mechanism for navigating between documents linked by the HTTP protocol. Since then, hyperlinking mechanisms have expanded to include modern attributes such as rel, target, download, and around 14 other HTML5 attributes that improve accessibility, security, and functionality.

In practice, hyperlinks enable navigational convenience, support for citation linking in scholarly articles, and are used extensively in e-commerce for product identification and in content management systems for controlling internal navigation. The correct use of hyperlinks is essential for good web design, improving user experience, search engine visibility, and compliance with accessibility guidelines.