Permitted content #

Permitted attributes #

Descriptions for attributes specific to this element #

name = ID OBSOLETE

Specifies that its a element is a named hyperlink, with the name given by the value of this attribute.

The name attribute on the a element is obsolete. Consider putting an id attribute on the nearest container instead.

href = URI

A URL that provides the destination of the hyperlink. If the href attribute is not specified, the element represents a placeholder hyperlink.

target = browsing-context name or keyword CHANGED

A name or keyword giving a browsing context for UAs to use when following the hyperlink.

The target attribute on the a element was deprecated in a previous version of HTML, but is no longer deprecated, as it useful in Web applications, particularly in combination with the iframe element.

rel = tokens

A list of tokens that specify the relationship between the document containing the hyperlink and the destination indicated by the hyperlink.

hreflang = language tag

The language of the destination of the hyperlink.

media = media-query list NEW

The media for which the destination of the hyperlink was designed.

type = MIME type

The MIME type of the destination of the hyperlink.

Additional constraints and admonitions #

• The interactive element a must not appear as a descendant of the a element.
• The interactive element a must not appear as a descendant of the button element.
• The coords attribute on the a element is obsolete. For image maps, use the area element instead of the a element.
• The shape attribute on the a element is obsolete. For image maps, use the area element instead of the a element.
• The urn attribute on the a element is obsolete. Specify the preferred persistent identifier using the href attribute instead.
• The charset attribute on the a element is obsolete. Use an HTTP Content-Type header on the linked resource instead.
• The methods attribute on the a element is obsolete. Use the HTTP OPTIONS feature instead.
• The rev attribute on the a element is obsolete. Use the rel attribute instead, with a term having the opposite meaning.

Permitted parent elements #

any element that can contain phrasing elements, any element that can contain flow elements

Details #

DOM interface #

interface HTMLAnchorElement : HTMLElement {
  stringifier attribute DOMString href;
           attribute DOMString target;
           attribute DOMString rel;
  readonly attribute DOMTokenList relList;
           attribute DOMString media;
           attribute DOMString hreflang;
           attribute DOMString type;

           attribute DOMString text;

  // URL decomposition IDL attributes
           attribute DOMString protocol;
           attribute DOMString host;
           attribute DOMString hostname;
           attribute DOMString port;
           attribute DOMString pathname;
           attribute DOMString search;
           attribute DOMString hash;
};

Typical default display properties #